The Hindu : Mumbai in semifinals

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Monday, Mar 01, 2004

Sport

Sport - Hockey

Mumbai in semifinals

By Our Sports Reporter

RAJ NANDGAON, FEB. 29. Striker Nishi Chauhan steered Mumbai into the semifinals of the Federation Cup women's hockey tournament here on Sunday. Mumbai defeated Uttar Pradesh 3-0 and picked up three crucial points from the match that became a virtual qualifier.

On Saturday, Railways downed UP to stake the claim for the top position in the Pool `A'.

Nishi was tentative from the start and only at the fag end did she display glimpses of her talent. In tandem with Paulina Surin, Nishi attacked the UP post after an agonisingly dour display in the first half.

After a futile first session, Nishi combined well with Paulina and Fatima Kujur to leave the UP defence unsettled. Earlier, after a regulation goal in the fourth minute, off the first penalty corner that Mumbai earned, the tables were reversed as UP possessed the ball for the most part. Striker Meenakshi was marked heavily, nevertheless she would break free to run down the line. But Meenakshi's moves came unstuck as her fellow forwards struggled to keep pace with her.

Nonetheless, UP was able to hold Mumbai, a virtual second-string Railways line-up. As deep defenders, Suman Rane and skipper Franciska Kujur, held the fort well, something different was needed from the Mumbai forwards.

Mumbai earned its third penalty corner in the 52nd minute and Paulina made sure that the score-line moved up. Instead of taking long push, Paulina took a short one and it worked on the surface offering awkward bounce. Following the ensuing melee, Nishi put herself in a position to reverse flick and put Mumbai 2-0 up.

Time ran out for UP as forward Poonam Singh's two good strikes were palmed away by Mumbai goalkeeper Seema Lakra. In the very last minute Nishi made a brilliant run down the left flank and crossed the ball to the rushing Paulina, who took a dive before slotting it home.

In the second match of the day, Orissa was given a rough ride by a resilient Karnataka. With five international players — skipper Binita Toppo, Nilima Kujur, Subhadra Pradhan, Sarita Lakra and Bahamani Tirkey — in its side there was no reason for Orissa to settle for a 1-0 win.

But Karnataka custodian and junior international S. S. Nilan made the difference. She saved at least five sure attempts by Orissa strikers and even nullified one penalty stroke, but still ended on the losing side.

The results: Pool `A': Mumbai 3 (Fatima Kujur, Nishi Chauhan, Paulina Surin) bt Uttar Pradesh 0. Pool `B': Orissa 1 (Mukta Prabha Barla) bt Karnataka 0.

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