Karnataka waltz through
Hosts Karnataka became one of the biggest benefactors of the wide absenteeism that continues to plague the 56th IHF National women’s hockey championship.
Karnataka marched into the quarterfinals without even striking a single ball. Rajasthan and Uttarakhand — the two teams grouped along with the hosts in Pool B — failed to show up for the event at the KSHA stadium citing ‘public exams’, paving the way for the S Prema-led side into the knockout stage in the easiest manner possible.
Orissa also pulled out of the event on Friday afternoon with West Bengal almost certain to back out due to the Hockey India diktat that states that any player or team associated with any IHF event faces a ban.
Defending champions Railways, Jharkhand and Chandigarh had already pulled out before the start of meet, leaving the organisers completely red-faced.
Anupa Baria thundered in nine goals, including a hat-trick, as favourites Madhya Pradesh hammered a hapless Gujarat 18-0 in Pool C.
Strike partner Raina Yadav also struck a hat-trick — four goals in total — while Pravasini Bage and Sushma Soymurum scored a brace each while Dulari Minz joined in the goal fest with one to her name as Madhya Pradesh ripped Gujarat to shreds.
Raina started the goal rush, slotting home in the fourth, fifth and seventh minutes as MP led 3-0 in quick time. Pushed on to the back foot, Gujarat tried to contain the damage but could only watch in dismay as MP went about dismantling them with very little force. Anupa fired home in the 11th, 19th, 23rd and 25th minutes, while Rania added her fourth as MP broke for the interval leading 8-0.
Goals continued to rain upon resumption as MP wrapped up a comfortable win.
Results: Pool C: Madhya Pradesh: 18 (Raina Yadav 4th, 5th, 7th, 27th, Anupa Baria 11th, 19th, 23rd, 25th, 40th, 41st, 46th, 50th, 59th, Pravasini Bage 36th, 55th, Dulari Minz 45th, Sushma Soymurum 48th, 58th) bt Gujarat: 0; Uttar Pradesh: 8 (Vandana Kataria 1st, 35th, 37th, Shradha Verma 6th, Reema Mourya 27th, Pratibha Choudry 29th, Anima Soreng 42nd, 52nd) bt Manipur: 1 (Ashalata 18th).
Pool E: Puducherry w/o Orissa.
Pool F: MP Academy: 12 (Jameela 1st, 3rd, 12th, Manjari 11th, 33rd, Jahanara 26th, Dipika 35th, Reena Katariya 37th, 49th, 55th, 58th, Tarini 3rd) bt bt Pune Hockey: 0.
Pool G: Bhopal: 4 (Mamta 11th, Shikha 12th, Hemlata 36th, Arti 59th) bt Andhra Pradesh: 0.
Pool H: Haryana: 10 (Rajni 17th, 21st, 25th, Reena Kashyap 18th, 55th, Anju Dhiman 22nd, 32nd, 59th, Ramneek 35th, Navneet 57th) bt Mizoram: 0.