Defending Champions Punjab and Hockey Odisha seal their places in the Finale of the 4th Hockey India Junior Men National Championship (Div A)

New Delhi 5 April 2014: It was the eliminator matches of the 4^th Hockey India Junior Men National Championship 2014 (Division A) which was played between Punjab vs Haryana and Hockey Odisha vs Sports Authority of India. While the first semi-final match between Haryana and Punjab was a keenly contested match it was the Defending Champions Punjab who kept their nerves and beat the former 6-2 and while the second semi-final between Hockey Odisha and Sports Authority of India was a completely one-sided match with Hockey Odisha dominating the entire session.

For the finale tomorrow while Punjab is all set to retain its title, Hockey Odisha is eyeing to settle scores with Punjab, as last year too both teams had met in the finals where Hockey Odisha lost to Punjab 2-1. This year it is yet to be seen who outwits the other to take the title home.

In the first semi-finals Punjab taking on Haryana kept pressure on the opponents in the entire match and did not allow them to get away during the entire session. Punjab opened its scorecard in the 11^th minute when the team got a penalty corner which was converted by Harmanpreet Singh.  Within 4 minutes and in the 15^th minute Parvinder Singh scored a brilliant field goal giving the team a 2 goal lead. 18^th minute again the team got a penalty corner which yet again was converted through the stick of Harmanpreet Singh. Just before the end of the first session, in the 32^nd minute Punjab got another penalty corner opportunity and this time it was Ajit Pandit who did the scoring and taking the team to a 4-0 lead.

The second session was more evenly contested with Haryana trying to make a comeback. They scored back to back goal. The first one came in the 61^st minute and was a penalty corner that the team bagged. The second field goal came immediately in the 62^nd minute through the stick of Nikhik Saroha. Punjab immediately took charge and they added 2 more goals in the 67^th and 68^th minute helping them to take a big margin win over Haryana and entering the Finale tomorrow.

In the second semi-final match between Hockey Odisha and Sports Authority of India, Hockey Odhisha immediately went on the attack by scoring in the 9^th minute when Joseph Toppo scored though a field goal. They put the opponent in the backfoot when they immediately scored the 2^nd goal in the 11^th minute which came from Felix Baa’s stick. In the 24^th minute Hockey Odisha scored its 3^rd goal through Nilam Sanjeep Xess. Going into the second half the team was leading 3 goals to 0. Hockey Odisha added another 3 goals in a matter of 6 minutes which came in the 52^nd, 54^th and 56^th minute taking them to a convincing win and on a high to the finals tomorrow.

Results for the Day

1^st Semi-final Punjab 6 Harmanpreet Singh (11, 18 min), Parvinder Singh (15, 68 min), Ajit Pandit (32 min) and Lovepreet Singh (62 min) Vs Haryana 2 Sahil Dabas (61 min) and Nikhik Saroha (62 min)

2^nd Semi-final Hockey Odisha 6 Joseph Toppo (9 min), Felix Baa (11 min), Nilam Sanjeep Xess (24 min), Teophil Kujur (52 min), Prasan Tirkey (54, 56 min) Vs Sports Authority of India 0

SCHEDULE FOR TOMORROW-

6^th April 2014

Hardline Match 4pm  Haryana vs Sports Authority of India

Finals 6pm  Punjab vs Hockey Odisha