Haryana to clash Railways in women’s national hockey final

NEW DELHI: Hosts Haryana will clash with Railways in the final of the Hockey India senior women’s national championship at Motilal Nehru Sports School at Rai, Sonepat on Sunday. In the semifinals on Saturday, Railways routed Punjab 9-0 while Haryana beat Orissa 3-0.

Chanchan Devi Thokchom drew first blood for the Railways in the second minute when her deflection from Deepika Thakur’s cross went past Punjab goalkeeper Gursharan Kaur. Jasjeet Kaur Handa scored the second goal from a penalty corner in the 7th minute while captain Saba Anjum struck from an indirect five minutes later to open the floodgates for the Railways.

Recent recruit, teenage striker Rani, combined with Poonam Rani in the 25th minute to increase the lead to 4-0 while defender Joydeep Kaur sounded the boards from another penalty corner in the 31st minute to establish a commanding lead at half time.

Punjab again had no answer to the Railways onslaught in the second half as they caved in meekly conceding four more goals. Jasjeet scored her second firing home after being set up by Mukta Barla . This was followed by Joydeep sinking another penalty corner past the hapless Gursharan in the 53rd minute.

Rani added her name again on the scorer sheet recording her brace in the 63rd minute after wrong-footing a couple of Punjab defenders, while Poonam Rani completed the tally two minutes from the final whistle.

In the second semifinal the fancied Haryana forwards were troubled by the tenacious and alert Orissa defenders. Goalkeeper Sumanti Toppo, defenders Sarojini Ekka, Divya Kerketta and Dulari Kandulna foiled many attempts from skipper Mamta Kharab, Surinder Kaur and Monika Dahiya.

After a goalless first half, Haryana finally broke the ice in the 57th minute when winger Meenakshi deflected in a penalty corner to great relief of the home crowd. This goal appeared to break Orissa’s spirit as Haryana produced flair and fluency in their attacks to score two more goals.

Surinder Kaur neatly pushed past Toppo from a penalty corner to increase the score three minutes later while full back Jaspreet Kaur slotted home from a 68th minute penalty stroke to give Haryana victory.

The final will be played on Sunday at 3:00 pm after the third place playoff between Punjab and Orissa.