Rajnandgaon, Chhattisgarh, 08 May 2015: Registering their respective wins, the top four teams enters the semi- finals of the 5th Junior National Hockey Championship 2015 (Women) ‘’A’’ Division being played at Rajnandgaon, Chhattisgarh.

In the Semi- Final 1 to be played tomorrow, Hockey Haryana will lock horns with Hockey Odisha while, Hockey Punjab will clash against Hockey Jharkhand in Semi- Finals 2.

The day started with a win for Hockey Jharkhand who edged past Hockey Rajasthan 13-0 and marched into semi- finals of the tournament. The second match of the day witnessed an interesting clash between Bhopal Hockey and Maharashtra Hockey where the former beat the latter with a narrow margin of 4-3. In the third match of the day, Hockey Odisha white-washed Delhi Hockey with a huge margin of 13-0 to enter Semi- Finals of the tournament. The day proved to be fruitful for Sports Authority of India as they thrashed Hockey Unit of Tamil Nadu 8-0.

In a one sided match which was clearly dominated by Hockey Jharkhand as they went on to beat Hockey Rajasthan 13-0. The proceedings for Hockey Jharkhand started as early as the 2nd minute with Alka Dung Dung scoring the first goal for the team. This was immediately followed by Pramila Soren scoring a brace in the 5th and 17th minute and taking the scorecard to 3-0. Already in a strong position, Hockey Jharkhand scored their fourth goal in the 28th minute and this took the half time score to 4-0 in their favor. The second half was again in favor of Hockey Jharkhand as Kanti Pradhan added two quick goals for her team in the 44th and 46th minute taking her team to a very strong position. Leading the game by 6-0, Hockey Jharkhand added seven more goals in regular intervals and won the game 13-0.
The game began on a high note for Bhopal Hockey as they defeated their opponents, Maharashtra Hockey 4-3. The first thirty minutes saw intense and continuous efforts from both the teams, eyeing the first goal of the match. It was in the 32nd minute when Bhopal Hockey drew first blood as a penalty corner was successfully converted by Jyoti Giri, resulting in the first half scores at 1-0 in favour of Bhopal Hockey. The second half saw Hockey Bhopal looking at doubling the lead and they found success in the 49th minute, as Priti Singh scored through a penalty corner. Trailing the game, Hockey Maharashtra finally struck in the 53rd minute when Alakananda Bagde standing in the opponents D deflected the ball into the nets. Hockey Bhopal feeling that they might lose the edge on the game came back strong as they scored two consecutive goals in the 65th and 68th minute taking the score to 4-1 in their favour. With just couple of minutes left in the game Hockey Maharastra giving in their last fighting in the dying moments scored two quick goals in the 69th and 70th minute, but the goals coming in late for them they lost 3-4 to the opponents.

In another match Hockey Odisha blanked their opponents, Delhi Hockey 13-0. Six minutes into the game, Nil Projit Majhi smashed an opening field goal for Hockey Odisha and helping his team open the account. Within two minutes, Dipti Lakra with a field goal doubled the score the team and taking the score to 2-0. In 11th and 14th minutes respectively, Nil Projit Majhi scored two back to back field goals taking the total tally to 4-0. Delhi Hockey tried to sneak past the opposition defence but was no match for the well thought out strategies of Hockey Odisha. Possessing the ball and making quick attacks, Hockey Odisha increased their lead, when Elima Minz scored a brace in 18th and 29th minute respectively. Adding another goal in the 31st minute helped Hockey Odisha take a 7-0 in the game at the end of first half. In the second half Delhi Hockey tried every move in their strategy to break the opposition’s defence but were outplayed by their superior rival. Hockey Odisha, confident on their win scored three goals in 39th, 41st and 42nd minutes, coming from the sticks of Kanchan Barla and Sarojini Ekka. Hockey Odisha ended up completely decimating their opponents when in 46th minute a penalty corner was successfully converted by Roshni Lakra and in 51st minute a smashing field goal by Priyanka Ekka. This brilliant one sided game ended with Hockey Odisha adding one more goal to their kitty, taking the final score to 13-0.

In a high intensity clash, Sports Authority of India thumped Hockey Unit of Tamil Nadu 8-0. The raining of goals for Sports Authority of India started in as early as in the third minute of the game from a penalty corner conversion by Anjali Gautam. In just five minutes of the first goal, Nagai Pari Tombing K. struck a beautifully crafted field goal in the eighth minute of the game taking the lead to 2-0 in favour of Sports Authority of India. Keeping up the momentum of scoring, Anjali Gautam further added 2 goals for her team in the 14th and 20th minute of the game. This was well supported by Prashu Singh who very energetically notched 4 back to back field goals to take the tally to 8-0. With Hockey Unit of Tamil Nadu unable to open their account, Sports Authority of India declared a convincing win over Hockey Unit of Tamil Nadu 8-0.

Results of the Day-

Pool C Hockey Jharkhand 13 Alka Dung Dung (2 min-FG), Pramila Soren (5 min-FG, 17 min-FG, 55 min-FG, 59 min-FG), Anima Tiru (28 min-PC, 50 min-FG, 66 min-FG), Kanti Pradhan (44 min-FG, 46 min-FG, 65 min-FG), Eva Kerketta (58 min-FG, 62 min-FG) vs Hockey Rajasthan 0

Pool C Hockey Bhopal 4 Jyoti Giri (32 min-PC), Priti Singh (49 min-PC), Siddhi Singh (65 min-PC), Sneh Gaur (68 min-FG) vs Hockey Maharashtra 3 Alakananda Bagde (53 min-FG), Aishwarya Nikam (69 min-FG), Priyanka Wadmare (70 min-FG)

Pool D Hockey Odisha 13 Nil Projit Majhi (6 min-FG, 11 min-FG, 14 min-FG), Elima Minz (18 min-FG, 29 min-FG), Sangita Rose Kullu (31 min-FG), Kanchan Barla (39 min-FG, 42 min-FG), Sarojini Ekka (41 min-PC), Roshni Lakra (46 min-PC), Priyanka Ekka (61 min-FG), Elice Ekka (69 min-FG) vs Delhi Hockey 0

Pool D Sports Authority of India 8 Anjali Gautam (3min- PC, 14min- FG, 20min- PC) Nagai Pari Tombing K. (8min- FG), Prashu Singh (61min- FG, 62min- FG, 67min- FG, 68min- FG) vs Hockey Unit of Tamil Nadu 0