The Hindu : Sport : No challengers for the Railways

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Thursday, Feb 07, 2008
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No challengers for the Railways

Principal Correspondent

JALANDHAR: Unlike in men’s hockey, there is hardly any team to challenge Railways, which has had an iron-grip on the Lady Ratan Tata trophy for the Women’s National champion for the last 21 years.

This year again, there is hardly any change and Railways look as menacing as ever.

Its 18-0 win against Maharashtra on Tuesday is a testimony to the power it wields.

“Whatever be the margin of our win, people always find excuses to criticise Railways for whatever it is today,” said Sita Mehta, manager of the team.

“Is it our fault that other teams are not up to the mark to challenge us?” she asked.

No support

Sadly, there is not much institutional support to women’s hockey, except from the Railways.

Players are bunched together by every State association only when Nationals or the National Games come around, though Haryana may be an exception.

But this year, Haryana plunged into a deep crisis, with its Shahbad-based team being restrained by coach Baldev Singh from participating in the Nationals when the State association removed him from the post.

While the best talent is cooling its heels, Haryana fielded a second-string team led by seasoned Pritam Rani Siwach.

India player Mamta Kharab, who quit Railways to join Haryana Police, is the lone international face in Haryana that mostly comprises young players from Pritam’s academy in Sonepat.

Still, it has managed to make it to the semifinals ahead of Gwalior and Orissa.

On Friday, Haryana will take on Jharkhand, which shut out host Punjab to move up from Pool B.

While Railways’ qualification to the semifinals from Pool A is a long foregone conclusion, there are three teams vying for one spot from Pool C.

The equation

After the rest day on Wednesday, Bombay will take on Delhi while Indian Universities meets Andhra Pradesh.

Bombay, with four points, has a better goal difference and needs a simple win to qualify while the Universities team, also with four points, will have to beat Andhra Pradesh by more than five goals and hope that even if Bombay wins the margin is very slender.

It will, however, have an advantage as Bombay and Delhi play an early match, making it clearer for Universities to know the required winning margin against Andhra Pradesh.

Delhi also has an outside chance, but it will have to beat Bombay and then hope that Andhra Pradesh wins over Universities.

In other action, Railways takes on Karnataka while PEPSU meets Maharashtra in the Pool A league matches.

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