The Hindu : Sport / Basketball : Chhattisgarh, IOB triumph

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Friday, Nov 03, 2006
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Chhattisgarh, IOB triumph

Jamshedpur: Chhattisgarh and Indian Overseas Bank (Tamil Nadu) clinched the women's and men's title respectively in the 22nd Federation Cup basketball championship here on Thursday.

Chhattisgarh defeated Delhi 77-58 in the women's final to record its maiden title while the IOB men emerged champion for the third time beating ONGC (Uttaranchal) 95-58 at the JRD Tata Sports Complex.

In the women's final, Anju Lakra-led Chhattisgarh, comprising five internationals, put its act together to avenge its loss against Delhi in the league stage of the championship.

Delhi, studded with six international players, had an all-win record before Thursday's final but nothing went right for it in the final.

Internationals Lakra, Seema Singh, Akansha, Bharti Netam and Navnit Kaur entertained the spectators with their superb control over the ball and accurate shooting in each quarter. Chhattisgarh, which took the third place in the last edition of the championship and bronze medallist of the National championship for the third consecutive year, successfully blocked Delhi's scoring chances and kept on scoring at will.

IOB dominates

In the men's final, IOB (Tamil Nadu), which had won the title in 2003 and 2004, dominated the proceedings in virtually a one-sided match against ONGC.

Captain Robinson, an international, led the team from the front while Suresh Kumar chipped in with some accurate passes. International Tridip Rai, emerged top-scorer for IOB with 24 points.

IOB led 28-8 in the first quarter and surged ahead to 54-27 at half-time.

ONGC, however, regrouped in the third quarter to launch a counter-attack. But IOB regained its rhythm in the last quarter to finish the match at 95-58. — PTI

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