Jharkhand shines in hockey, Xess nets 4

Sanjay Ojha, TNN

RANCHI: Jharkhand men and women excelled in their opening hockey group matches, thumping Tamil Nadu and Assam, respectively, in the National Games here on Sunday.

Outfielder Binita Xess blasted four goals in her team’s 8-0, blanking off Assam girls with Sabba Anjum, Subhadra Pradhan and Niki Pradhan rounding off the tally. Four goals of Xess included a hat-trick in the Pool A match.

Toying with the Assam defence from the first minute at the jam-packed stadium and local supporters, Jharkhand girls scored at will. Xess opened the floodgates at ninth minute by converting the penalty corner into a goal. Her hat-trick was scored between 31st and 44th minute of the game.

Efforts of Xess had support of Anjum, who has represented India at many international events. Anjum scored a couple of goals.

Jharkhand men were not behind the women. In their first pool match, they, too, dominated the match from the first minute, putting the guest on defensive against expectation of the experts. Everyone was surprised because Tamil Nadu ranks sixth in the national charts and Jharkhand got entry just because it is the host state.

The tally for Jharkhand was opened by Birendra Lakra (Jr) who scored the first goal in the 13th minute. The excitement of the cheering home crowds could not last long as Tamil Nadu’s G Gnanaval converted a penalty stroke into a goal in the 17th minute of the play equaling the tally.

The match turned in favour of the host team with two successive goals within one minute by Olympian William Khalko and budding star Belsezer Horo in 57th and 58th minute, respectively, leaving the crowd mad in celebrations.

On Monday, both men and women team of Orissa will take on Maharashtra at the same venue in Pool B matches.