Railways beat Haryana 7-1, win Senior women’s National C’ship
SONEPAT: Railways annexed the inaugural Hockey India Senior women’s National Championship as they trounced hosts Haryana 7-1 at Motilal Nehru Sports School at Rai on Sunday.
The star-studded virtual Indian team led 5-1 at the breather leaving the Haryana squad clueless. The Haryana side was handicapped by the absence of international player Mamta Kharab due to injury, thus leaving the responsibility to India skipper Surinder Kaur.
The Railways meant business as captain Saba Anjum deflected a penalty corner home in the 2nd minute, before striker Rani slotted past goalkeeper Savita ten minutes later after being set up by Chanchan Devi.
The Railways appeared to go on a rampage as they found the target again in quick succession with two more goals within a gap of two minutes.
Midfielder Asunta Lakra first struck a blinder in the 14th minute and Deepika Thakur made no mistake as she ripped past Haryana defenders Jaspreet Kaur and Jaswinder in the 15th minute.
Jasjeet Kaur Handa then brought home the fifth goal in the 27th minute as Railways continued its domination in the first half.
Haryana only managed a consolation goal two minutes before the break with a softly hit penalty corner by full back Sandeep Kaur which rolled past rival goalkeeper Deepika Murty.
The hosts, however, put up a better fight in the second half, defending inside their striking circle and thus denying their rival forwards Rani, Jasjeet, Saba and Chanchan space.
However, Railways proved unstoppable with Rani striking from a pass by Kirandeep Kaur in the 53rd minute, while defender Joydeep Kaur rounded off the tally with a 66th minute penalty corner conversion to script a fluent victory.
Earlier, a hat-trick by Elin Lakra enabled Orissa to beat Punjab 5-3 to win the bronze medal.
Orissa opened their account in the 3rd minute when Lilima Minz reverse tapped past Punjab custodian Gursharan Kaur.
Punjab found the equaliser in the 23rd minute with a penalty corner conversion by Vartika Singh.
However, they conceded the lead to their rivals again in the 31st minute with Elin Lakra making no mistake from a penalty corner.
Orissa increased their tally after the break with Elin again on target with a corner conversion in the 43rd minute.
Punjab pulled one back three minutes later with Anuradha Thokchom converting a penalty stroke awarded after Lalremruati was brought down in the striking circle.
Orissa, however, were undetered and went on to score their fourth goal in the 48th minute when Elin struck again from open play and further consolidated their lead when she found the target again from a set piece.
Thokchom was able to score the third goal for Punjab in the dying minutes but that was not good enough.