Lucknow: Hosts Uttar Pradesh beat Delhi 4-1 in their opening group D league match in the 2nd Hockey India Junior Men National Championship played at Major Dhyan Chand Stadium here on Saturday.

Uttar Pradesh played attacking hockey throughout the game leading 2-1 in the first half. The goal scorers for Uttar Pradesh were Ram Prakash (seventhminute), Sandeep Kumar (33), Imran (60) and Arjun (63) while Pawan Singh scored Delhi’s only goal.

In the opening match of the day, Manipur scripted an easy 12-1 win against with Tripura in Pool B while an Armaan hat-trick helped MPHA Bhopal beat Andhra Pradesh 9-1 in pool F.

In Pool H ties, Puducherry and Rajasthan dished out some thrilling moments before the former won the 70-minute battle 5-2 after leading 2-1 at the half-time while. Himachal Pradesh scored an 8-1 victory over Bihar.

Uttar Pradesh Minister for PWD, Cooperative and Irrigation Shivpal Singh Yadav inaugurated the nine-day Championship at a colourful ceremony.

Tomorrow’s fixtures:
Pool B: Odisha vs Manipur (7.00 a.m.); Pool F: Andhra Pradesh vs Goa (8.30 a.m.); Pool H: Himachal Pradesh vs Rajasthan (10.00 a.m.); Bihar vs Pudicherry (3.00 p.m.); Pool D: Jharkhand vs Delhi (4.30 p.m.)

By Indian Sports News Network