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Tamil Nadu enters semifinals

Sports Reporter

HOCKEY / A creditable achievement by Mizoram boys; Air-India pips IOC

CHENNAI: C.R. Kumar, the Tamil Nadu hockey coach, doesn’t believe in sitting in the bench, giving instructions to his wards. Instead he chooses to sit in the stands, giving instructions through the ear-piece (taking videos) to the assistant coach Sendhil. This is not to say that Tamil Nadu, given its limitations, has improved drastically, but it certainly has got — perceivably — better after very outing.

On Sunday, in the quarterfinals of the St. Joseph’s-TNHA junior National men’s hockey championship at the Mayor Radhakrishnan Stadium, the host put up a much-improved performance to overcome Mizoram 4-1. Tamil Nadu will next take on Air-India (on June 29), which piped IOC 8-7 (via sudden death; 1-1 full-time).

For Mizoram having reached this far has been an accomplishment in itself. Playing at this stage for the first time, they had nothing to lose. And their game showed it. Though, it didn’t have any player who dribbled or showed extraordinary skills with the ball, it played to a plan. Mizoram defended well and the opposition was forced to stretch every muscle.

The ploy worked really well throughout the first session. TN’s Laxman Karan, Vinod Rayer and others pushed hard to score but somehow did not manage to give Tamil Nadu the breakthrough and the teams left the ground goalless at half-time.

Tamil Nadu came back harder in the second session. The wings were quick, the passes made sense and the forwards were alert to the occasion. Naturally, goals flowed.

Heartlin James’ fine backhander put the host ahead within six minutes of resumption.

Arun Stalin David converted a penalty corner. Laltanzova, however, pulled one for Mizoram off a penalty corner. Heartlin James struck twice — he is the top-scorer of the tournament with 14 goals — to put the issue beyond Mizoram, which played with two players less, suspended for receiving two yellow cards each in their earlier matches.

The Air-India-IOC clash was a hard-fought one. Seconds to go for the breather, Diwakar Ram opened the account for IOC with a perfectly executed penalty corner.

Air-India equalised through a stunning backhander from Arjun Antil from the top of the circle. Using his discretion, the Tournament Director decided not to have extra-time as is the norm.

In the shoot-out that ensued, the scorecard read 5-5. With IOC’s Prem Kumar’s shot being stopped by goalkeeper Pradeep Singh in the sudden death, Air-India sailed to the last four.

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