SPORTS

Mughals, Nationals split points in DSA League
Our Sports Reporter

New Delhi, January 8
Former champions Mughals Club held defending champions Indian Nationals to a goalless draw to share points in a Group B league match of the Delhi Soccer Association (DSA)-SAIL Senior Division Football League Championship at the Ambedkar Stadium in the Capital on Tuesday.

The draw helped Mughals snatch a valuable point to take their points tally to two from three matches while Nationals are way ahead at ten points, collected from four matches. After three straight wins, it was a chastening experience for Indian Nationals, champions for the past two years, to drop points, despite boasting of a formidable line-up comprising three foreign recruits--Nigerians Augustine Okoro Ekume, Cassious Akumu Okino and Abass Babayanju.

These three Nigerians, no doubt, kept the Mughals goal under tremendous pressure, particularly in the second half, but when it came to the crunch, they fumbled with their shots.

Mughals called the shots in the first half when mid-fielders Manish Kumar, D K Ghosh and Mingma initiated a number of threatening moves, but forwards Rajesh Arya, who is also the skipper, Sunil Birla and Manjeev Kumar failed to score from close, despite getting chances on a platter.

Luck was also not on Mughals' side as they had many close shaves at the Nationals' goal, including a free-kick shot by defender Inderjeet Sharma, which shook the cross bar, before rebounding. Rajesh Arya made a hash of the rebound, though he was well-positioned to put it into the box.

In the second half, Nationals pressed very hard, and in the last 15 minutes, they had virtually camped at the Mughals' goal area. But substitute Abass Babayanju fumbled twice near the goal mouth, even when Mughals' custodian K Banerjee showed a pair of porous hands.

Haryana girls crush G V Raja School in hockey
Our Sports Reporter

New Delhi, January 8
SGNP Girls Senior Secondary School, Shahabad Markanda (Haryana) trounced Goda Varma Raja Sports School, Thiruvanathapuram (Kerala) by ten goals to nil to enter the semi-final of the eighth Nehru-NDMC Girls Hockey Tournament at the Shivaji Stadium in the Capital on Tuesday.

In another match, Birsamunda Vidyapitha, Rourkela pounded Government Girls Senior Secondary School, Dharamjaigarh 6-0, also to make the semi-final grade. The Haryana girls were in a belligerent mood from the word go, and after they opened the account in the ninth minute through Arti Sharma, there was no respite for the Kerala custodian. Arti scored the first and last goal. Kanu Priya, who accounted for the second goal, scored the fifth as well as the eighth goal too, the last goal off a penalty corner.

Harjinder Kaur scored the third, fourth and sixth goals to complete the half time tally. Jasjeet Kaur scored the seventh goal while Ramneek Kaur accounted for the ninth, converting a penalty corner.

In the first match, the Rourkela girls also scored their first goal in the ninth minute, through Sarita Hanuman. Sangita Minz, who slotted in a hattrick on Monday, struck the second goal, while Mukta Prava Barla scored the third goal off a penalty stroke. Pravasini Bage hit home the fourth and fifth goals while Subhadra Pradhan completed the tally.

Ramit Gill stars in Mount Fort's victory
Our Sports Reporter

New Delhi, January 8
A match-winning all-round performance by Ramit Gill (25, 3x4; 2/9) powered Mount Fort A to a 133 runs victory against Jaspal Public School, and into the final of the seventh Bro. Ambrose Cricket Tournament, organised by Mount Fort School, Ashok Vihar, in the Capital.

Mount Fort, who won the toss and decided to bat, made 202 for 8 in 40 overs, with Vineet Sharma top-scoring with a well-crafted 57 (5x4). A cunning 8-0-40-4 off-spin bowling spell by Niraj Malhotra, with able support from Manish Suri and Ayushman, helped Jaspal Public School restrict Mount Fort to a reasonable total.

But Jaspal School failed to take advantage of the good work done by their bowlers to crash for a meagure 69 runs in 27.5 overs, to give Mount Fort a massive victory.

Mount Fort will take on Hansraj Model School, Punjabi Bagh in the final.

Hansraj too had scored a mammoth 106 runs victory against Mount St. Mary School, Delhi Cantonment in the first semi-final.

Scores: Mount Fort: 202 for 8 in 40 overs (Vineet Sharma 57, Aman Khangra 30, 2x4; Ramit Gill 25, Niraj Malhotra 4/40, Manish Suri 2/45, Ayushman 2/46).

Jaspal Public School: 69 all out in 27.5 overs (Ramit Gill 3/22, Nipun Malhotra 2/9).

Aditya, Vivek make it for Frank Anthony
Our Sports Reporter

New Delhi, January 8
A solid knock of 65 off 86 balls with eight boundaries and a fine all-round performance by Vivek Verma (23 runs and 3/44) enabled Frank Anthony Public School beat Gyan Bharti School by 22 runs in a league match of the Roshanara-Pepsi Cup (Under-13) Cricket Tournament at the Roshanara ground in the Capital.

Scores: Frank Anthony: 189 for 4 in 40 overs (Aditya Saini 65, Rohan Tuteja 37 n o, Deepak Gosain 23, Vivek Verma 23). Gyan Bharti: 167 in 40 overs (Prateek Pawar 60, Kaushal 21, Vivek Verma 3/44, Ankush Bakshi 2/24).

Nahar Singh Vir Singh Cricket

S B Youth Cricket Club will organise the first Ch. Nahar Singh Vir Singh Saini Memorial Cricket Tournament for Under-15, to be held from January 10.

The Organising secretary Ashok Goyal said in the Capital on Tuesday that 11 teams have already confirmed their participation in the tournament. The teams are: Sonnet, Hansraj, Young Friends, Madan Lal Academy, R P Academy, Frank Anthony, DAV (Shalimar Bagh).