New Delhi: Defending Champions Punjab will take on Odisha in the final of the 3rd Hockey India Junior Men National Championship 2013 to be played at Moti Lal Nehru Sports Complex, Rai in Sonepat on Thursday.
Parvinder Singh and Gaganpreet Singh scored twice for defending Champions Punjab to register a 6-2 win over Madhya Pradesh Hockey Academy in the first semi-final.
Punjab started their game scoring an early goal in the 3rd minute while Manish Gurung converted a penalty corner in the 12th minute for Madhya Pradesh Hockey Academy to level the score. Punjab took a 2-1 lead in the 21st minute with the field goal scored by Parvinder Singh. In the 24th minute Madhya Pradesh Hockey Academy availed an easy scoring chance through Arjun Sharma and once again leveled the score at 2 all.
Punjab dominated the proceedings in the second half of the game and scored four goals through Parvinder Singh (61st min), Gaganpreet Singh (43rd & 45th min) and Varun (49th min). Defending Champions Punjab seems confident in the second half and didn’t allow their opponents any scoring chance.
In the second semi-final, Odisha defeated The Hockey Maharashtra 2-1 in a hard fought match. After a goalless first half, Joseph Toppo scored an opening goal for Odisha in the 41st minute. A field goal scored by Sunil Ekka in the 55th minute helped Odisha to take a 2-0 lead. The Hockey Maharashtra reduced the margin in the 60th minute through Vinit Kamble.
Note- There will be a live telecast of the final match on DD Sports from 1500hrs
Results
Semi-final 1: Punjab 6 (Simranjeet Singh 3, Parvinder Singh 21, 61, Gaganpreet Singh 43, 45, Varun 49) beat Madhya Pradesh Hockey Academy 2 (Manish Gurung 12, Arjun Sharma 24)
Semi-final 2: Odisha 2 (Joseph Toppo 41, Sunil Ekka 55) beat The Hockey Maharashtra 1 (Vinit Kamble 60)
Fixture for Thursday, 13 June 2013
3rd/4th Position- The Hockey Maharashtra vs Madhya Pradesh Hockey Academy (1300hrs)
Final- Punjab vs Odisha (1500hrs)