Hockey: hosts decimate Goa, pump in 5 goals

Hosts Pune District Hockey Association launched their campaign in grand fashion as they pulled off a convincing 5-1 win against a resilient Goa side in the opening match of the 35th Junior (under-20)National Hockey Championship for boys and girls, organised by the PDHA(Pune District Hockey Association), under the auspices of the IHF(Indian Hockey Federation) and played at the Major Dhyanchand ground in Pimpri-Chinchwad, Nehrunagar on Saturday evening.
Pramod Shingede and Deep Patel with two goals each produced a stellar performance to ensure that PDHA walked away with a victory, while Vinit Kamble netted the fifth. Bashir Tirkey got the lone goal for thelosing side.

Meanwhile, Other Districts, a team comprising of players from the surrounding districts of Maharashtra, overcame Bihar 4-2 in a pool ‘G’match.

Earlier, Manipur got the better of Kerala 3-2 in a keenly contestedpool ‘A’ encounter. M Shitananda, N Jilleie and K H Rabikanta were on target for the winners while for Naushad E and Rashman U V scored one apiece for the Kerala side.

In another match from the same pool, Steel Authority of India Limited proved too strong for Rajasthan as they cruised to an overwhelming 10-0 win. Sunil Kanduna got a brace while Aijub Ekka, Jitendra Yadav, David Dung Dung, Mikhal Barla, Sushil Xalxo, Sunil Toppo, Sukhwinder Singh and Adnan Wasim chipped in with one each as SAIL romped to victory.