The Hindu : Sport / Hockey : Services scores an impressive win

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Saturday, Dec 29, 2007
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Sport - Hockey

Services scores an impressive win

Kirti Patil

JAIPUR: Services captain Sarath Kumar and his crack combination of Rajil Mathew, Siju Joseph and Shijas P. Mohammed reveled under the conditions to defeat Kerala 37-35, 25-19, 25-21, in the last league match in Group B, in the 56th National volleyball championship here on Friday.

The first set that saw 72 points being scored was testimony to the engrossing contest that the capacity crowd witnessed. Kerala, last year’s runner-up, started meekly against a cohesive Services, which fired right from the first serve.

Defending champion Railways powered its way to a third straight win, beating Karnataka 25-17, 25-17, 25-27, 25-15. With a quarterfinal spot already assured, Railways tested its bench strength and still won without much effort. P.V. Sunil Kumar and captain Sudarshan Varma came to its rescue whenever in trouble.

On Thursday night, Tamil Nadu scored its first win when it defeated the aggressive Haryana in four sets. Tamil Nadu won the first two sets 25-22, 25-18 before Amir Singh, back after his two-match ban was reduced to one, inspired Haryana to win the third set. But Haryana failed to utilise the opportunities that came its way in the fourth to eventually lose to Tamil Nadu.

From the lower groups, Andhra Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Rajasthan topped their respective pools to earn a place in the play-off matches. Andhra Pradesh takes on Rajasthan in the first match while Chhattisgarh awaits the winner of Group F.

Railways tops group

Railways and Kerala topped their respective elite groups in the women’s section at the end of the league matches. Railways defeated Bengal in straight sets to top Group A with an all-win record. Bengal finished second while Andhra Pradesh, which beat Delhi on Friday 25-17, 25-19, 25-13, was third and qualified for the quarterfinals.

The results: Men: Group A: Railways beat Karnataka 25-17, 25-17, 25-27, 25-15; Tamil Nadu beat Haryana 25-22, 25-18, 18-25, 27-25. Group B: Services beat Kerala 37-35, 25-19, 25-21. Group C: Andhra Pradesh beat Bihar 25-21, 25-12, 25-16. Group D: Assam beat Delhi 26-24, 25-23, 25-20; Rajasthan beat Jammu and Kashmir 25-20, 25-14, 25-16. Group E: Orissa beat Andaman and Nicobar 25-14, 25-17, 25-14; Chhattisgarh beat Bengal 25-17, 25-19, 25-20. Group F: Puducherry beat Jharkhand 25-22, 22-25, 25-18, 25-15.

Women: Group A: Andhra Pradesh beat Delhi 25-17, 25-19, 25-13; Railways beat Bengal 25-12, 25-11, 25-11. Group B: Kerala beat Tamil Nadu 25-14, 25-8, 25-13; Chandigarh beat Maharashtra 25-21, 25-16, 16-25, 25-23. Group F: Madhya Pradesh beat Jharkhand 25-21, 25-18, 25-16.