PSB to fight Karnataka for a place in semis

Chandigarh, January 29

Punjab & Sind Bank (PSB) will face Hockey Karnataka, while Haryana will take on Air India Sports Promotion Board (AISPB) in the 10th Hockey India Senior Men National Championship 2020 (A Division) quarterfinals.

In the two Pool D matches that were played at Major Dhyan Chand Hockey Stadium in Jhansi today, the AISPB played out a 1-1 draw with Hockey Gangpur-Odisha to secure a point and finish second in the group, while Hockey Karnataka drubbed Hockey Odisha 5-2 to secure the top-spot.

The top-two teams from each pool progressed to the quarterfinals.

The AISPB took the lead in the 22nd minute through Mohammed Raheel Mouseen, but Hockey Gangpur-Odisha found the equaliser within three minutes as Manoj Kindo (25th) scored for them.

Both teams tried to look for the winner, but it was the AISPB who benefited from the draw as they secured their berth in the quarterfinals.

In the second match of the day, Hockey Karnataka put up a great show to defeat Hockey Odisha. Karnataka were brilliant throughout the match as they scored in all the four quarters, with M Likhith B (30th, 53rd), CS Shamanth (4th), Deekshit SP (24th) and Pavan Madivalar (36th) getting their names on the scoresheet.

Hockey Odisha did pull off a couple of goals through Prasad Kujur (55th) and Krishna Tirkey (56th) but it wasn’t enough as the match ended 5-2 in favour of Hockey Karnataka.

In the remaining quarterfinal matches, Petroleum Sports Promotion Board will square-off with Hockey Unit of Tamil Nadu, while Services Sports Control Board will lock horns with The Mumbai Hockey Association Ltd.

Quarterfinal matches will be played tomorrow. — TNS