AMN / New Delhi
Title contenders Odisha and Punjab chalked out easy victories over Delhi (5-1) and Karnataka (7-1) respectively to move into the semi finals of the Boys hockey competition in Khelo India School Games at Dhyan Chand National Staium,New Delhi on Monday.
Completing the last four line up were Uttar Pradesh and Chandigarh who recorded contrasting wins over Haryana (3-1) and Rajasthan respectively.
In the first quarter final of the day, Delhi hardly posed any real threat to their rivals. However it took 21 minutes for Odisha to score their first goal when captain Amardeep Lakra converted a penalty corner. Ten minutes later Sudeep Chirmako made it 2-0 for his side.
Three minutes into the second, against the run of play Delhi earned a penalty corner and Rakesh sent the ball home (1-2).
Taken by surprise by this goal, Odisha launched furious counter attacks and within three minutes Delhi citadel crumbled again when Amandeep Lakra scored his second and team’s third off a penalty corner (3-1).
Odisha slammed two more goals through Matiyas Dang and Samir Ekka to complete the tally.
Raman Kumar scored three goals as Punjab made short work of Karnataka. The winners who led 2-0 at half time took their time to gain pace and momentum.
Punjab surged ahead in the 19th minute when Prateek Sharma sent the ball off a penalty corner and then Angadbir Singh raised the tally(2-0)..
In second session Punjab’s Jaspreet Singh, and Surdarshan Singh added a goal each to Raman Kumar’s three- goal tally . Karnataka managed to reduce the gap in the 57 minute through Cyril Lugun .
Earlier trailing till the 35th minute, Uttar Pradesh staged a good rally to put it across Haryana .The teams were leveled 1-1 at the break.
Pankaj put Haryana ahead in the 13th minute when he made no mistake in converting a stroke. However Uttar Pradesh managed to draw parity through Shahbaz Khan just before interval.
In the second half, Arun Sahani and Saurabh Kushwaha chipped in with a goal each to seal the match for Uttar Pradesh.
In the last quarter final , Chandigarh handed a 9-2 drubbing to Rajasthan. The winners faced some resistance in the first half but pummeled their rivals in the second.
For the winners goal scorers were; Amandeep,Jaspreet (two each), Sahibjeet, Hashim, Arshdeep, Sukhman Singh, Harpanth Preet Singh (one each) For the losers Shivam and Pawan Jat scored a goal each.
In the semi finals, Odisha will play Uttar Pradesh and Punjab will faced Chandigarh on Wednesday
Results (all quarter finals)
Odisha beat Delhi 5-1 (HT 2-0)
Goal Scorers for Odisha : Amandeep Lakra (2)Sudeep Chirmako,Matiyas Dang and
Samir Ekka (one each)
Scorer for Delhi : Rakesh (one)
Uttar Pradesh beat Haryana 3-1 (HT 1-1)
Goal scorers for Uttar Pradesh: Shahbaz Khan,Arun Sahani, Surabh Kushwaha(one each)
For Haryana: Pankaj (one)
Punjab beat Karnataka 7-1(HT2-0)
Goal scorers for Punjab:Raman Kumar (3)Prateek Sharma, Angadbir Singh, Jaspreet Singh, Surdarshan Singh (one each)
For Karnataka: Cyril Lugun (one)
Chandigarh beat Rajasthan; 9-2 (HT 3-2)
Goal Scorers for Chandigarh: Amandeep,Jaspreet (two each), Sahibjeet, Hashim, Arshdeep, Sukhman Singh, Harpanth Preet Singh (one each)
For Rajasthan: Shivam, Pawan Kumar Jat (one each)