Chandigarh: Sector 8 DAV Senior Secondary School Hockey Academy, Malwa Khalsa School Hockey Academy, Ludhiana, BUSH Academy, Khadoor Sahib and Jarkhar Hockey Academy, Ludhiana, qualified for the league phase of the 7th SN Vohra Memorial sub-junior (under-14) hockey tournament, being organized by Rock Rovers Club at Sector 42 Hockey Stadium on Tuesday. The first outing in the four-team round robin league will be played between Malwa Khalsa School Academy and BUSH Academy at 3.15 pm on Wednesday while Jarkhar Hockey Academy are pitted against DAVSSS-8 Hockey Academy at 4.30 pm.
In the opening match on Tuesday, DAV Academy drubbed Maharaja Ranjit Singh Academy, Amritsar, 3-0. The highlight of the match was a fine brace by Balwinder Singh who pumped in two fine field goals in the 5th and 40th minute. Ramandeep rounded of the tally with a nice flick in the 55th minute. Malwa Khalsa School Academy proved too good for Gopal Hockey Academy, Kurali, whom they trounced 5-0. Launching their attack from the start, Malwa Khalsa School Academy forged ahead when Mandeep Singh scored a field goal in the 10th minute.
Harmandeep Singh and Paramjot Singh struck in the 33rd and 35th minutes to give their team an unassailable 3-0 lead. The last two goals came from the stick of Parminder Singh who sounded the board in the 38th and 60th minute.
In another match, Jarkhar Hockey Academy, Ludhiana, edged out GRM School, New Delhi, 3-2 in a closely fought encounter. It was GRM who had drew the first blood through centre forward Manjeet Singh in the 9th minute. The New Delhi school led 1-0 at half time. After changing side, Jarkhar Academy was a transformed lot. Their forward line displayed complete understanding among themselves with the mid-field providing them full support. In a span of four minutes, Jarkhar Academy scored three goals. Daljeet Singh restored parity in the 40th minute and Lovepreet Singh put Jarkhar ahead with a brilliant field goal in the 41st minute. Gurjeet Singh then made it 3-1 in favour of Jarkhar Academy in the 44th minute when his powerful shot caught the opposition custodian on wrong foot. In a counter attack, GRM forced a penalty corner in the 56th minute and Sumit converted it to reduce the margin. In an exciting encounter, BUSH Academy upset string title contenders Surjit Hockey Academy, Jalandhar, 2-1.