UP beat Haryana 7-3, become sub-junior hockey champions

Undefeated Uttar Pradesh Hockey team lifted the 14th Hockey India Sub-Junior Men National Hockey Championship, which concluded at the Sector 42 Sports Complex. In a one-sided final, the team ousted Haryana 7-3 to emerge as champions of the event.

The side faced only two neck-to-neck competitions (against Jharkhand 4-3 in quarterfinal and against Punjab 3-2 in semifinal). However, the fine finish in majority of the penalty corners helped the side rule the event. The half-backs of the team played an important role in bridging the gap between the defenders and strikers in order to take home the winning trophy.

In the final, UP lads dominated the proceedings. The side had a comfortable lead of 5-1 by the half time. Rahul Yadav opened the account in the first quarter for UP by converting a penalty stroke in the fifth minute, but the lead was soon cancelled by Chirag as he put the ball over the goal line in a penalty corner in the 10th minute. As the match progressed, UP strikers launched more attacks to trouble the Haryana defenders. The strikers were right on target as the side gained four penalty corners and a stroke. Ujjwal Pal (12th, 24th, 35th, 47th minute) successfully converted all penalty corners, while Yadav found the back of the net via penalty stroke in the 26th minute.

Disheartened Haryana got some relief as Neeraj made it 2-6 in the 52nd minute. However, Sharukh Ali made it 7-2 for Uttar Pradesh in the 53rd minute. In the 58th minute, Chirag scored a consoling goal for Haryana, which was not enough to stop UP from lifting the title.

Meanwhile, Punjab bagged the third position by overpowering Odisha 8-1. Yuvraj Singh opened the account for Punjab in the third minute and in the very next minute, Odisha found the equaliser through Kerketta Mandeep. Thereafter, Punjab lads got hold of the match and Sunny (8th and 55th minute), Mandeep (19th, 26th) and Ajaypal Singh (48th) scored goals to make it 8-1 win.