Wily Karnataka trump Punjab to enter final

Sudheendra Tripathi, TNN

BHOPAL: The first semifinal of the Senior National hockey championships between Karnataka XI and Punjab failed to live up to expectations. A defensive Karnataka XI laboured to a 2-1 win to advance to the final.

While enthusiasts were left complaining, from Karnataka XI’s point of view their objective was achieved. On semifinal eve, one of the senior members of the Karnataka XI side, Deepak Thakur, had told TOI they would be looking to make early inroads and then seek to quietly defend the lead. So, when drag flick specialist VR Raghunath found the target with his lethal flick in the 10th minute, Karnataka XI knew their plot was unfolding according to plan.

They went into the break holding their slender one-goal advantage. But almost immediately into the second session (36th), they conceded a goal as Dharamveer Singh drew level for Punjab. This, of course, was not a part of Karnataka XI’s original script.

As a result, they had to rework their gameplan and slow the game down considerably until they earned a free hit in the 46th minute. Raghunath stepped forward and slapped the ball crisply in the D. The ball deflected off the legs of a Punjab defender (umpire Javed Shaikh played the advantage rule) and went to Thakur, who deflected it for Hariprasad to tap home.

The 2-1 scoreline remained intact as Karnataka XI further slowed down the game. There were a few anxious moments for them but some brilliant defending by Irshad Ali and Raghunath ensured that there were no further changes in their script.

That Raghunath would take any free hit near the Punjab D was another critical component of the Karnataka XI plot. “We had decided that I would take all the hits near the Punjab D. I am glad that I made the most of the two opportunities I got,” he told TOI after the match.

Two opportunities in 70-minute game is nothing to be proud off. “We had to be a bit defensive. Also, Deepak was not at his best, so we couldn’t earn more short corners,” skipper Amar Aiyamma reasoned.

Clearly, Raghunath didn’t want to get into numbers. “My job is to take drag flicks and the top of the D slap shots. If that is not happening I am responsible to keep the ball away from our defence zone,” he said. For now though, it is mission accomplished for the Karnataka XI camp.

Results: Semifnals: Karnataka XI 2 (VR Raghunath 1, Hariprasad 1) bt Punjab 1 (Dharamveer Singh 1)