Sub-Jr Women Hockey NationalsHaryana romp 8-0 past Madhya Pradesh, to meet Jharkhand in summit clash

By Our Staff Reporter
IMPHAL, May 21 : Captain Saavi produced an impeccable scoring performance and scored five goals on the trot to steer Haryana to an easy 8-0 win over Madhya Pradesh today in the first semi-final match of the 12th Hockey India Sub-Junior Women National Championship here at Hockey Stadium, Khuman Lampak.
Haryana dominated the game from the word go and went up 2-0 in the first quarter as Nidhi hit a brace scoring back to back in the 10th and 11th minutes.
The second period went lull as neither side could make best use of their chances. Haryana shifted gears in the third quarter and poured in more players in Madhya Pradesh's half as the latter team concentrated more in defence and the scoreline finally changed with Riya scoring the third goal for Haryana in the 35th minute before star of the day, Saavi opened her scoring four minutes latter to make it 4-0.
Saavi then took full charge of the attack to keep pressure on the already demoralised Madhya Pradesh and pumped in four goals including one off a penalty corner, to complete her haul of 5 goals and handed Haryana a comfortable 8-0 win.
Later in the low scoring second semi-final match, Jharkhand beat Uttar Pradesh 2-1 to set up the final date with Haryana.
After playing out an uninspiring first quarter, Jharkhand scored the opener via Balo Horo (30') at the stroke of the halfway time as she converted a penalty corner and the team went further up with Nisha Minj extending the lead in the 41st minute off another penalty corner.
Purnima Yadav pulled back a goal for Uttar Pradesh in the 45th minute but the team failed to close the gap and claw back into the back as Jharkhand defence did well to thwart all incoming threats till the final whistle.
Semi-finalists, Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh will fight it out for the 3/4 place titles tomorrow from 8 am at the same venue before the title clash starting 6 pm.