Andhra lads log win in sub-junior hockey nationals

Hockey Andhra Pradesh defeated Hockey Uttarakhand 4-3 during the last phase of the league stage in the ongoing 14th Hockey India Sub-Junior Men’s National Championship at the Sector 42 Sports Complex.

Kalyan Ganja put the Andhra team ahead in the 12th minute, while three minutes later Ayush Kalura cancelled the lead for Uttarakhand. Andhra lads were pushed back by Govind Singh in the 22nd minute as he sounded the wooden plank to put Uttarakhand ahead 2-1. However, the joy was short-lived as Devatha Yashwant brought the score on a par for Andhra in the 41st minute. Vishal Kumar’s strike in the 48th minute once again helped Uttarakhand go ahead in the match. However, Shaik Irfan (50th) and Poola Balaji (58th) netted a goal each to bag full points for Hockey Andhra Pradesh.

In the second match, Chhattisgarh Hockey defeated Hockey Rajasthan 6-3. Abhishek Yadav (7th, 51st, 52nd) scored three goals, while Liyansh Sarthi (6th), Aanand Kumar Suryavanshi (20th) and Lavi Manikpuri (43th) also contributed for Chhattisgarh. Tanveer Singh (44th, 45th) and Sachin Choudhary (31th) were the scorers for Rajasthan. Hockey Bengal defeated Telangana Hockey 2-1. Aman Kumar Thakur (14th) and Karan Shaw (44th) ensured the victory for Hockey Bengal while Sujeet Rajbhar (34th) netted the sole goal for Telangana Hockey. In the final clash of the day, Kerala Hockey defeated Assam Hockey 9-2. For Kerala, Ashin MA was clinical as he scored four goals (19th, 21st, 24th, 49th). Kolnati Ram (11th, 16th), Ekka Jiwan (3rd), Aditya Lakra (46th) and Nidhin T (52nd) also found the back of the net. Saddique Ahmed (13th) and Jensing Bey (38th) scored the goals for Assam.

On Monday, Uttar Pradesh Hockey will face Hockey Jharkhand in the first quarterfinals, followed by Hockey Association of Odisha against Dadra & Nagar Haveli and Daman & Diu Hockey, Hockey Haryana clash with Hockey Chandigarh and Hockey Madhya Pradesh will have their match against Hockey Punjab.