Odisha, Uttar Pradesh and Jharkhand Qualify for Quarterfinals

SONEPAT, Oct 6: Odisha, Uttar Pradesh and Jharkhand completed the quarter-final line-up with emphatic victories in the concluding league matches of 2nd Hockey India Junior Women National Championship at Motilal Nehru School of Sports, Rai on Saturday.

Unbeaten Odisha topped pool with a 5-2 win over Karnataka who could not sustain the initial spirit in the game. Odisha displayed far more vigour and focus from the starting of the game when they came up with some flowing moves that marked the first, second and third goals to dismantle the Karnataka’s defence that caved in under ceaseless pressure.

Odisha who led 3-0 in the first half started slow in the second half as their opponents Karnataka scored first goal through Ranjitha in the 43rd minute. Thereafter Reshma lakra scored brilliant field goal in the 55th minute for Odisha and 3 minutes later Nilprajita Majhi successfully converted penalty corner. Karnataka tried hard to reduce the margin and score second goal in the 67th minute through Ranjitha but failed to make it to quarterfinals.

The quarter-final line-up: holders MPHA vs Delhi and Jharkhand vs Punjab on October 8, 2012; Chandigarh vs Uttar Pradesh and Odisha vs Haryana on October 9, 2012.

Unbeatable Uttar Pradesh beat Chhattisgarh 7-0 in their concluding league game of Pool F to qualify for the quarterfinals. Kavita Maurya topped the score list with 3 goals for Uttar Pradesh, Followed by Annu Kumar (2), Pranjal Sharma (1) and Kajal Malik (1).

Last year runners-up Jharkhand also qualified for the quarter-finals as they started promisingly when Dragflicker Sushila Lakra converted a 2nd minute penalty corner. Basanti Kachhap scored second goals for Jharkhand in the 21st minute followed by another goal in the 29th minute by Rajini Soreng. Four minutes later Punam M. Tete scored field goal for Jharkhand. Forward Nomita Xalxo scored two continuous goals before the half time putting 6-0 on board.

Jharkhand who led 6-0 at the half time scored another three goals through Anima Minz (2) and Ranjita Soreng (1).

The day began with the Manipur notching their first win in Pool B by defeating Tamil Nadu 3-2.

Later, Gujarat hammered Puducherry 3-0 in their concluding pool D fixture for their first win, but the result had no bearing on the race for the quarter-finals.

The results:

Pool B: Manipur 3 (Th. Bidhyarani Devi 15; Sh. Ashalata Chanu 27; S. Loibi Chanu 33) beat Tamil Nadu 2 (B. Jelastina 56; M. Cladis Ando 68). Jharkhand 9 (Sushila Lakra 20; Basanti Kachhap 21; Rajni Soreng 29; Punam M. Tete 33; Nomita Xalxo 34, 35; Anima Minz 38, 57; Ranjita Soreng 46) beat Hockey Bhopal 0.

Pool D: Odisha 5 (Surabhi Pradhan 12, 15; Lilima Minz 34; Elin Lakra 55; Nilprajita Majhi 58) beat Karnataka 2 (Ranjitha A.K 43, 67). Gujarat 3 (Firdosh Kalavadiya 3; Priyanka Singh 46; Juhi Singh 67) beat Puducherry 0.

Pool F: Uttar Pradesh 7 (Kavita Maurya 4, 38, 68; Pranjal Sharma 9; Annu Kumar 20, 48; Kajal Malik 62) beat Chhattisgarh 0.