The Hindu : Sport : Delhi edges out spirited U.P.

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Tuesday, Mar 28, 2006

Sport

Sport

Delhi edges out spirited U.P.

Sports Reporter

AGONY AND ECSTASY: Delhi striker Sonika exults after scoring against U.P. in the women's National hockey championship in New Delhi on Monday. — PHOTO: SANDEEP SAXENA

NEW DELHI: Delhi staved off a spirited Uttar Pradesh to win 3-2 and claim maximum points in the Pool F super league match of the NTPC 54th Women's National hockey championship held at the Shivaji Stadium here on Monday.

Striker Pritam Rani Siwach sparked Delhi's revival after U.P. had taken the lead early on.

Pritam was ably assisted by fellow forward Manjinder Kaur. The duo showed glimpses of the artistry they used to showcase during their heydays with the National side. Only this time, Pritam let the younger lot to pump in the goals.

U.P., which finished ahead of Delhi in the zonal championship, took the lead in the 17th minute when Ashrita Toppo reverse flicked into the top of the net on a cross from Rijuta Mullick.

Delhi took a while to regroup with Pritam and Manjinder using their immense experience. In the 28th minute an unmarked Sonika blasted the ball home to draw Delhi level.

On changing ends, the teams increased the pace before Sushila put Delhi ahead in the 42nd minute. On a brilliant pass from Pritam, Sonika doubled Delhi's lead.

However, the visiting team rallied hard. The Delhi defenders were caught napping and U.P. was awarded a penalty stroke. Skipper Meenakshi made no mistake in slotting the ball home.

The last nine minutes were quite a treat but the U.P. girls failed to find the equaliser.

In a Pool E match, Jharkhand and M.P. drew 3-3. The third team in the pool is Railways.

The results (super league):

Pool E: Jharkhand 3 (Amrita Minz, Punita Minz, Nilima Kispota) drew with Madhya Pradesh 3 (Aarti Sharma, Kanu Priya Sharma 2).

Pool F: Delhi 3 (Sonika, Sushila) bt Uttar Pradesh 2 (Ashrita Toppo, Meenakshi).

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