Pune: Before entering the quarter-final stage of the 5th edition of the Hockey India Senior Men National Championship 2015 (Div B), the participating teams displayed remarkable on-field skills in Pune, Maharashtra today.

The day witnessed eight top teams of the tournament taking on each other aggressively. Where, the first match saw Hockey Bihar edged-past Dadra and Nagar Haveli Hockey Association 2-1. In the second match Chandigarh Olympic Association overcame Hockey Puducherry 5-2. The last two matches resulted in a draw as Hockey Himachal held Major Port Sports Control Board 0-0 and Sashastra Seema Bal drew at score of 2-2.

In the first match of Pool G, Dadra and Nagar Haveli Hockey Association went down to Hockey Bihar 1-2. Where the entire first session went goalless for both the teams, Hockey Bihar’s Rakesh Roshan Ekka took the lead and scored a field goal in the 22nd minute of the game. It was Nitesh in the 34th minute who stroked an equalizer for his team and levelled the scores at 1-1. The equalizer remained short-lived as Rakesh Roshan Ekka struck a beautiful field goal in the 42nd minute further taking the lead at 2-1. As the teams were unable to add further goals to their account, the game concluded in favour of Hockey Bihar who beat Dadra and Nagar Haveli Hockey Association 2-1.

Continuing the day with one more win, Chandigarh Olympic Association defeated Hockey Puducherry 5-2. The initial opening of the match was taken by Chandigarh Olympic Association through Amanpreet Singh who scored through a field goal in the tenth minute. The second goal of the match came as late as in the 41st minute by Harwant Singh to double the lead to 2-0. Hockey Puducherry managed to open its score card in the 48th minute through the stick of R. Raghu. Chandigarh Olympic Association did not stop here and scored a brace through Ranjodh Singh in the 53rd and 57th minute escalating the lead further to 1-4. It was Ranwant Singh for Chandigarh Olympic Association who scored the fifth goal in the 58th minute. With an aim to reduce the margin, Hockey Puducherry’s J. Sudharsan notched the second goal in support of his team in the 60th minute. The game resulted in a win for Chandigarh Olympic Association who will play its quarter-final clash against Delhi Hockey tomorrow.

In the third match today (Pool H) Hockey Himachal held Major Port Sports Control Board to a goalless draw 0-0. It was an interesting match that saw MPSCB working well in all departments but Hockey Himachal also ensured their defence remained strong. The match between the two teams ended with a goalless 0-0 draw and Hockey Himachal will meet Manipur Hockey in the quarter- finals.

The last match of the day witnessed Sashastra Seema Bal who knotted against Hockey Madhya Pradesh to a score of 2-2. As early as in the 4th minute, Sashastra Seema Bal scored its first goal through L. Joy Chandra Singh. After ten minutes of scoring the first goal, Hockey Madhya Pradesh’s Devesh Yadav answered back with an equalizer in the 14th minute. But, the equalizer was short- lived as Sashastra Seema Bal advanced its lead to 2-1 through Sandeep Kumar in the 39th minute. Trailing by a goal with an aim to level the scores, Mayank Jemes scored the second goal for his team and pierced the opponent’s defence in the 46th minute, knotting the scores at 2-2.


Results of the Day-


Pool G Hockey Bihar 2 Rakesh Roshan Ekka (22min- FG, 42min- FG) vs Dadra and Nagar Haveli Hockey Association 1 Nitesh (34 min- FG)

Pool G Chandigarh Olympic Association 5 Amanpreet Singh (10 min- FG), Harwant Singh (41min- FG), Ranjodh Singh (53 min- FG, 57min- FG), Ranwant Singh (58min- FG) vs Hockey Puducherry 2 R. Raghu (48min- PC), J. Sudharsan (60min-FG)

Pool H Hockey Himachal 0 vs Major Port Sports Control Board 0

Pool H Sashastra Seema Bal 2 L. Joy Chandra Singh (4min- FG), Sandeep Kumar (39min- FG) vs Hockey Madhya Pradesh 2 Devesh Yadav (14min- FG), Mayank Jemes (46min- FG)