Intense Quarter Finals of the 1st Hockey India 5-a-side Senior National Championship 2016

Senior Women’s 5-a-side National Championship
Association of Indian Universities beat Hockey Jharkhand 3-0
Hockey Punjab beat Hockey Karnataka 6-5
Hockey Maharashtra beat Hockey Odisha 8-1
Hockey Haryana beat Uttar Pradesh Hockey 12-2

Pune, 29 October 2016: The penultimate day of the 5-a-side Senior National Championships saw quarter finals played out in the Men and Women division.

In the opening quarter final the Association of Indian Universities beat Hockey Jharkhand 3-0. Pooja Rani (2′, 13′, 27′) scored the goals for AIU, one in each period, to take them through to the semifinal. The defensive shut out meant Nancy became the first goalkeeper to keep a clean sheet in the tournament.

In the second match Hockey Karnataka and Hockey Punjab squared off for a semifinal spot, in what was perhaps the most evenly contested game in the tournament so far.

Gurpreet Kaur fired Punjab into the lead in the second minute of the game. Karnataka weren’t overwhelmed though equalising via BM Komala in the 6th minute. The two teams traded goals in the second period, Priyanka Wankhede (12′) giving Punjab the lead, before PP Rashmy (14′, 15′) scored twice to turn the tables on them. Ramngaihzuali Ralte restored parity in the 18th minute, but in the final minute of the second period, CM Bhagyashree scored the goal that took Karnataka into the final break with a 4-3 lead. AR Thanushree scored in the 23rd minute to extend Karnataka’s lead, but that didn’t last long, Ramngaihzuali scoring her second of the game two minutes later to drop the difference to one. Within the next minute, the leading scorer of the tournament Ramandeep Kaur registered her first goal of the game to draw Punjab level. With the minutes ticking by and the threat of shoot-out looming, Punjab would have the last laugh, Wankhede scoring the winner in the 29th minute to give Punjab a 6-5 victory and a place in the semifinals.

In the third quarter final, Hockey Maharashtra beat Hockey Odisha 8-1. Goals for Maharashtra were scored by Aishwarya Chavan (9′, 10′), Navneet Kaur (18′, 21′, 24′), Pratibha Sawant (20′) and Jameela Bano (28′, 30′). Odisha’s lone goal was scored by Dipti Lakra (15′).

In the final quarter final of the Women’s Championship, Hockey Haryana beat Uttar Pradesh Hockey 12-2 . Haryana’s Neha opened the scoring in the first minute, before grabbing two more goals in the 4th and 6th minute to grab a first period hat trick. They kept up the attack, with goals also coming from Manisha (5′, 11′, 28′, 30′), Anu (9′, 15′) and Bharti (16′, 25′). Neha scored her fourth goal of the game in the 22nd minute, as Haryana cruised into the semifinals. UP’s goals were scored by Shreya Singh (12′) and Siddhi Singh (13′).

In the games scheduled in the Women Championship for the evening yesterday, Hockey Maharashtra and UP Hockey drew 5-5 and Hockey Haryana beat Hockey Jharkhand 5-2.

In the evening games of the Men Championship yesterday UP Hockey beat Hockey Maharashtra 7-6 and Hockey Odisha beat Hockey Punjab 8-3.

The Men’s quarter final matches scheduled for later in the evening are:

Hockey Karnataka vs Hockey Punjab
Hockey Maharashtra vs Hockey Jharkhand
Uttar Pradesh Hockey vs Hockey Odisha
Association of Indian Universities vs Hockey Haryana

Results from Day 3 of the 1st Hockey India 5-a-side Senior National Championship 2016

Senior Men’s 5-a-side National Championship
Hockey Karnataka beat Association of Indian Universities 8-1
Hockey Haryana beat Hockey Jharkhand 8-3

Senior Women’s 5-a-side National Championship
Association of Indian Universities beat Hockey Karnataka 6-4
Hockey Punjab beat Hockey Odisha 7-4

Pune, 28 October 2016: The day’s action saw teams playing out the final rounds of the group stage games, and seal a spot in the next round.

With several teams locked on points, or behind purely on goal difference, the day’s games were played out more conservatively, with goals coming at a premium.

In the opening game of the Men’s Championship Hockey Karnataka beat Association of Indian Universities 8-1 in Pool A.

Nithin Thimmaiah opened the scoring for Karnataka in the 1st minute of the game. He scored a second for his side in the 27th minute. Other goal scorers for Karnataka were Abharan Sudev (4′, 29′), GR Shreyas (10, 12′), Pradhan Somanna (14′), MB Aiyappa (19′). AIU’s lone goal was scored by Lovepreet Singh in the 17th minute.

Hockey Haryana beat Hockey Jharkhand 8-3 in Pool B in the second Men’s Champioship game of the day.
Goals for Haryana were scored by Preetinder Singh (3′, 13′, 23′, 29′), Bharat (10′, 14′), Mandeep Antil (15′) and Jagwant Singh (20′). Jharkhand’s goals were scored by Nitesh Kiro (7′), Philmon Bhengra (18′) and Budu Tuti (22’).

In the opening Pool A encounter in the Women’s Championship, Association of Indian Universities beat Hockey Karnataka 6-4. AIU opened the scoring in the 2nd minute via Reena Rani but were pegged back by Karnataka, who levelled via BM Komala (3′). Goals via Beant Kaur (4′) and Pooja Rani (5′) meant AIU took a 3-1 lead out of the first period.

The teams traded blows in the second period, CM Bhagyashree (13′), Pooja Rani (14′) and Reena Rani (17′) were among the goals.

Reena Rani went on to get a hat trick for her team scoring her third goal of the game in the 30th minute as AIU marched to victory. Karnataka’s BM Komala also scored a hat trick with two more goals in the 26th and 30th minute.

In the Pool B game Hockey Punjab beat Hockey Odisha 7-4. Ramandeep Kaur kept up her form goalscoring form, scoring two goals in the 2nd minute before adding two more 12th and 19th minute to take her tally for the tournament to 12. It makes the highest scorer in the Women’s championship.

Other goalscorers for Punjab were Priyanka Wankhede (10′, 19′) and Ramngaihzuali Ralte (7′). Goalscorers for Odisha were, Sudha Swayam Sahu (6′), Dipti Lakra (14′) and Priyanka Ekka (23′, 27′).

In the games scheduled in the Men Championship for the evening yesterday, Hockey Jharkhand beat Hockey Punjab 10-4 and Hockey Maharashtra beat Association of Indian Universities 13-2.

In the evening games scheduled in the Women Championship yesterday, Hockey Haryana beat Hockey Odisha 6-4 and Association of Indian Universities beat Hockey Maharashtra 4-2.

Games between Uttar Pradesh Hockey and Hockey Maharashtra (Pool A) and Hockey Punjab and Hockey Odisha (Pool B) in Men are scheduled for later in the evening today.

Games between Hockey Jharkhand and Hockey Haryana (Pool B) and Uttar Pradesh Hockey and Hockey Maharashtra (Pool A) in Women are scheduled for later in the evening today.

Day 2 of the 1st Hockey India 5-a-side Senior National Championship 2016

Senior Men’s 5-a-side National Championship
Hockey Haryana beat Hockey Odisha 9-8
Hockey Karnataka beat Uttar Pradesh Hockey 6-3

Senior Women’s 5-a-side National Championship
Hockey Punjab beat Hockey Jharkhand 11-4
Hockey Karnataka beat Uttar Pradesh Hockey 7-6

Pune, 27 October 2016: The action on Day 2 continued at the same pace as yesterday, with high-speed and attacking hockey on display at the Balewadi Stadium.

In the first game of the Men’s Championship Hockey Haryana edged out Hockey Odisha 9-8 in their Pool B encounter.

Both teams were constantly in close battle, not letting the other out of their sights on the scoreboard. Haryana had the better of the opening two periods of the game, leading 6-4 going into the final period. Odisha rallied back to score four goals in the final period, but in the end fell short, Haryana holding on for the victory. Haryana’s Preetinder Singh (4′, 7′, 9′, 17′, 22′) scored five goals in their victory. Odisha’s Prakash Barla (10′, 25′, 26′) scored a hat trick in the game.

Hockey Karnataka beat Uttar Pradesh Hockey 6-3 in their Pool A game. Karnataka were on top throughout the game, opening the scoring in the 3rd minute via Nithin Thimmaiah. Thimmaiah scored a second in the 10th minute, and goals from Pradhan Somanna (10′) and MB Aiyappa (9′, 23′) gave them a 4-0 lead at the end of the first period. They kept up the tempo in the second period and it took till the 19th minute for UP to score their first goal via Raj Kumar. Deepak Singh (28′, 30′) scored twice in the final minutes of the game. A goal from D S Darshan in the 25th minute gave Hockey Karnataka a comfortable lead over Uttar Pradesh Hockey.

The first game in the Women’s Championship saw Hockey Punjab beat Hockey Jharkhand 11-4 in a Pool B encounter. Punjab had an outrageously quick start, scoring six goals in the first period via Ramandeep Kaur (3′, 10′), Rajwinder Kaur (7′), Navdeep (8′) and Ramngaihzuali Ralte (9′,10′) for no reply to take an unassailable lead. Ramandeep was the star of the match, scoring four more times in the next two periods (11′, 13′, 17′, 27′) to bag a double hat trick, the first of the Championship to guide her team to victory. Sushila Lakra (19′, 23′, 24′) scored a hat trick for Jharkhand.

In the second game of the day in Pool A, Hockey Karnataka beat Uttar Pradesh Hockey 7-6. It was a highly competitive and close game of hockey, with 10 players registering on the scoresheet. Karnataka were the ones quicker off the block, scoring four goals to no reply in the first period. The goals came from PP Rashmy (2′, 3′), HP Sandhya (5′) and CM Bhagyashree (9’). UP rallied back in the second period and both teams hit each other with goals, Karnataka going into the final period leading 7-4. Despite the three-goal cushion they had no chance to rest as UP launched a comeback bid, Komal Sahani scoring in the 23rd minute, before Shreya Singh’s 28th minute goal put the game’s result on edge. In the end Karnataka held on for the victory.

In yesterday’s evening matches in the Men’s Championship, Hockey Karnataka beat Hockey Maharashtra 6-5 and Hockey Haryana beat Hockey Punjab 7-5.

In the Women’s Championship yesterday, Hockey Haryana beat Hockey Punjab 9-5 and Hockey Maharashtra beat Hockey Karnataka 8-7.

Games between Association of Indian Universities and Hockey Maharashtra (Pool A) and Hockey Punjab and Hockey Jharkhand (Pool B) in Men are scheduled for later in the evening.

Games between Hockey Haryana and Hockey Odisha (Pool B) and Association of Indian Universities and Hockey Maharashtra (Pool A) in Women are scheduled for later in the evening.

Flurry of goals mark the start of the 1st Hockey India 5-a-side Senior National Championship 2016

Senior Men’s 5-a-side National Championship
– Uttar Pradesh Hockey beat Association of Indian Universities 14-4
– Hockey Jharkhand beat Hockey Odisha 5-3

Senior Women’s 5-a-side National Championship
– Association of Indian Universities beat Uttar Pradesh Hockey 12-2
– Hockey Odisha beat Hockey Jharkhand 8-7

Pune, 26 October 2016: The 1st Hockey India 5-a-side Senior National Championship commenced today at the Shiv Chattrapati Sports Complex in Balewadi.

A testament to the exciting new format of the game, the first four matches of the day saw a combined total of 55 goals! The first three matches started off at an unbelievably quick pace, with teams opening the scoring in the first minute of the game!

In the opening game of the Men’s Championship Uttar Pradesh Hockey beat Association of Indian Universities 14-4 in their Pool A encounter.

It took precisely one minute for the first of the goals to arrive, Mohd Shariq firing UP into the lead. A minute later Rahul Kumar Rajbhar doubled that for UP. From there they never let AIU back into the match, extending their lead through Om Pal (6, 11, 29), Dhananjay Singh (6′, 16′), Deepak Singh (10′, 13′), Monu Rajbhar (14′, 19′, 27′) and Raj Kumar (15′, 24′). Goals for AIU were scored by Vishal (5′, 29′), Ajpal SIngh (18′) and Sukhjit Singh (26′).

In the second game in the Men’s Championship, Hockey Jharkhand beat Hockey Odisha in Pool B.

It took until the second period of the game for the goals to arrive, the opener coming from Jharkhand’s Noyel Topno in the 15th minute. They doubled their lead in the 18th minute via Ulsan Mundu, before Topno got his second for the game in the 20th minute. Odisha were in contention though with goals by Stanli Minz (19′, 22′). Mundu got his second goal in the final period (26′), before Budu Tuti (28′) scored a fifth for his team to put the result beyond doubt. Alok Barla’s 30th minute goal was mere consolation as Jharkhand ran out 5-3 winners.

In the opening match of the Women National Championship, Association of Indian Universities beat Uttar Pradesh Hockey 12-2 in Pool A. Goals for Association of Indian Universities were scored by Pooja Rani (1′), Beant Kaur (2′, 7′, 25), Reena Rani (7′, 12′, 21, 22′), Priya (17′), Darshana Rani (29′, 30′) and Pushpa Rani (30′). UP Hockey’s goals were scored by Shreya Singh (5′) and Siddhi Singh (28′).

The second game was a highly competitive encounter between Hockey Jharkhand and Hockey Odisha in Pool B. Hockey Odisha edged the clash 8-7.

Odisha shot into a 4-1 lead at the end of the first period courtesy of goals from Jira Ekka (1′), Priyanka Ekka (2′, 6′) and Khusbu Kujur (9′). Jharkhand’s goal was scored by Pramila Soreng (8′). The two teams exchanged two goals each in the second period, before Jharkhand stormed back with four goals in the final period to ensure a tight finish. Odisha held for an 8-7 victory though.

Games between Hockey Karnataka and Hockey Maharashtra (Pool A) and Hockey Punjab and Hockey Haryana (Pool B) in both the Men and Women Championships are scheduled for later in the evening.