Khelo: 16-yr-old Sartaj Singh shoots gold

Tribune News Service 
Chandigarh, January 15

Patiala shooter Sartaj Singh survived some anxious moments to beat National Junior Champion Aishwarya Pratap Singh Tomar of Madhya Pradesh and win the gold medal in the 50m 3-position rifle competition in the Khelo India Youth Games in Pune on Tuesday.

The 16-year-old shot 447.2 in the final, riding on the lead he had opened up with 151.7 in kneeling and 150.5 in prone.

Sneha sinks Chandigarh 

In hockey, Sneha Sabharwal scored a hat-trick as Punjab stunned Chandigarh girls 4-3 at Mumbai and booked a place in the knock-stage in the U-17 category. 

Chandigarh took the lead in the third minute through Mitali and Kavita doubled their tally in the 13th minute. Punjab, however, reduced the deficit six minutes later through Sneha.

Kavita made it 3-1 for Chandigarh in the 30th minute, but Sneha struck in the 35th and 42nd minutes to help Punjab draw level. Deflated, Chandigarh defence conceded one more goal in the 51st to go down 4-3 to Punjab. Dhapa Devi scored the last goal for Punjab.

In the second match, Haryana registered a 3-2 win over Odisha. Komal Rohilla (11th), Deepika (31st) and Neelam (47th) scored for Haryana, while Neha Lakra (21st) and Nimabati Singh (49th) struck for Odisha. 

In the last match of the day, Jharkhand steamrolled Delhi 11-0. 

Odisha boys win

Odisha defeated Haryana 4-2 on penalties to win the men’s U-21 title. The two sides were tied 2-2 at the end of regulation time. 

In the penalty shootout, Ashis Topno, Gregory Xess, Shilanand Lakra and Dipsan Tirkey converted for Odisha while Kuldeep and Yashdeep Siwach scored for Haryana. 

Punjab beat Uttar Pradesh 2-0 in the shootout to win the bronze medal. Mehkeet Singh and Karanbir Singh converted for Punjab, while Uttar Pradesh missed all their attempts.