Himachal girls pip Andhra in hockey quarterfinals

Tribune News Service
Chandigarh, May 22

Hockey Himachal beat Andhra Hockey Association 3-2 on penalties to book a place in the semifinals of the 9th Hockey India Sub-Junior Women National Championship 2019 (B Division) in Sikar, Rajasthan, on Wednesday.     

Held 1-1 at the end of the regulation time, Himachal girls kept their composure to pip their opponents in the sudden death after both the sides managed to convert just two of their first five penalties.  

Priya put Himachal ahead in the 18th minute, but Andhra restored parity through Sandhya J in the 49th minute. 

In the penalty shootout, Himachal scored through Sonia Devi and Radha, while Sandhya J and Akshaya B converted their opportunities for Andhra. Radha then scored for Himachal in the sudden death while Andhra missed their chance.

In the semifinals, Himachal will face Hockey Madhya Bharat, who drubbed Hockey Gujarat 5-1 in the last quarterfinal match of the day.

Madhya Bharat scored all their five goals inside the opening 19 minutes of the game to stamp their authority on the match. Shileima Chanu Khaidem (8th, 10th) struck a brace, while Sneha Patel (1st), Hema Rajak (4th) and captain Aayushi Patel (19th) scored a goal each for Madhya Bharat. Jyoti Divakar scored the consolation goal for Hockey Gujarat in the 28th minute.

Maharashtra beat Patiala 

Earlier in the day, Hockey Maharashtra produced a clinical performance to register a 5-0 win over Hockey Patiala 5-0. 

After a goalless first quarter, Hockey Maharashtra took the lead in the 27th minute through Himanshi Gawande. The side scored four more goals in the next 23 minutes to seal a comfortable win over Patiala. Gauri Mukane hit home in the 41st minute, while Ashwini Kolekar added her name to the scoresheet in the 45th minute. Himanshi completed her brace (50th) before Prajakta Mane made it 5-0 for the side in the 54th minute. 

In the second quarterfinal, Hockey Uttarakhand overcame Hockey Rajasthan 2-1. 

Uttarakhand scored the opening goal in the 4th minute through their captain Monika Uniyal, but Rajasthan girls equalised in the 38th minute as Sakshi Shukla struck home. 

The match seemed to be heading for a penalty shootout as both the sides tried to score without any luck but for Prachi’s magical touch in the dying minutes of the game, which gave Uttarakhand a 2-1 win.

The side will now lock horn with Hockey Maharashtra for a place in the finals on Friday. 

Scores

• Maharashtra bt Patiala 5-0 
• Uttarakhand bt Rajasthan 2-1
• Himachal bt Andhra 3-2 
• Madhya Bharat bt Gujarat 5-1

Semis line-up

• Maharashtra vs Uttarakhand
• Himachal vs Madhya Bharat