Hockey: UP to face Bhiwani in final

Defending champions Uttar Pradesh defeated Jalandhar by 9-0 while Bhiwani, Haryana outclassed last year’s runners-up Cheema Academy by 4-0 in their respective semi-final clashes to set up a title clash against each other in the Balrampur Chini All India KD Singh ‘Babu’ Sub-Junior Invitation Hockey Tournament being held at Dhyanchand astro-turf stadium. Bhiwani team had occupied the third spot in the last edition of the tourney. The tournament concludes on February 2— the birth anniversary of hockey giant KD Singh ‘Babu’.
The match between Uttar Pradesh and Jalandhar was a one-sided battle in which the former exercised an upper hand from the very onset of the play. The score at half-time was 6-0 in favour of the victors. The goal-scorers on behalf of UP were Ikhtidar Ishrat (3 goals— in the 1st minute, 28th minute and 55th minute), Dharmender Yadav (2 goals— in the 20th minute and 50th minute), Uttam Singh (2 goals— in the 19th minute and 23rd minute), Gopi Sonkar (6th minute) and Vidhan Patel (40th minute through penalty stroke).

In the Bhiwani vs Cheema Academy semi-final, forwards Sanjay (3rd minute and 9th minute) and Piyush (17th minute and 69th minute) blasted two goals each as Bhiwani, Haryana defeated Cheema Academy by 4-0.

Wednesday’s Fixtures: Match to decide the third place: Jalandhar vs Cheema Academy (at 12.00 noon); Final: Bhiwani, Haryana vs UP (at 2.30 pm).