The Hindu : Sport : Jharkhand shuts out PEPSU

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Friday, Jul 01, 2005

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Sport

Jharkhand shuts out PEPSU

Kirti Patil

TAKING CONTROL: Jharkhand's Fulmani Soy (right) clearing the ball from PEPSU's Raj Raminder Kaur. — Photo: Rajeev Bhatt

NEW DELHI: Jharkhand opened its campaign with a confident 3-0 win over PEPSU to enliven the Pool B equation in the 53rd National Women's hockey championship at the Shivaji Stadium here on Thursday.

Sushma Kiran Minz plotted PEPSU's downfall in tandem with forwards Sarita Lakra and Punita Minz.

Jharkhand forwards tested their opponents for a while before making the breakthrough in the 18th minute.

Sarita rushed alone from the centre and set Punita up for an easy goal.

PEPSU tried to counter-attack but poor ball control had Jharkhand back into its half. Jharkhand skipper Sushma scored her first goal on a rebound off the second penalty corner the team earned.

On changing ends, Jharkhand increased the pressure from the left flank but PEPSU goalkeeper Varinder Kaur came up with some good saves. Punita found the breach in the 69th minute but as Varinder rushed to counter, she crossed the ball to unmarked Sushma.

After the reverse against Orissa on Tuesday, Uttar Pradesh struck form. Captain Meenakshi played a stellar role as the quarterfinalist of the last Nationals defeated Kerala 7-0 in a Pool A league match.

Uttar Pradesh's frontline of Ashrita Toppo, Poonam Singh, Kamini Mishra and Meenakshi toyed with the poor Kerala defence.

Ashirita opened the account. Though she failed to score in the first half, Meenakshi had her hand in most of the goals Uttar Pradesh scored. Meenakshi eventually scored twice in the 41st and 50th minutes.

Later in the late afternoon, Air India rallied to beat Karnataka 3-2. Smiley Hemalatha struck twice in the second half after the two teams had tied 1-1 at the halftime. For Karnataka Usha K. scored both the goals.

The results:

Pool A: Uttar Pradesh 7 (Ashrita Toppo 7th and 57th, Poonam Singh 16th, Manjari 32nd, Meenakshi 41st and 50th, Neelam Kushwaha 65th) bt Kerala 0.

Air India 3 (Vijaya Mogal 22nd, Smiley Hemalatha 48th and 51st) bt Karnataka 2 (Usha K. 11th and 61st).

Pool B: Jharkhand 3 (Punita Minz 18th, Sushma Kiran Minz 19th and 69th) bt PEPSU 0.

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