Maharashta women finish second, men clinch bronze

Maharashtra women finished runners up after losing 3-4 to Hockey Haryana in a nail-biting final of the second Hockey India 5-a-side Senior National Championship at Balewadi Sports Complex in Pune. Maharashtra had won the combined (men and women) event a day earlier. The state men’s team won the bronze medal.

The Hockey Haryana girls held sway right from the start with Rani and Monika scoring as early as the first and third minute to gain a 2-0 lead. H. Lalruatfeli (5’ and 14’) scored twice for Hockey Maharashtra while Aishwarya Chavan (24’) scored once but a strong overall display of attack and defence saw Hockey Haryana score through with Rani (13’) and Navneet (22’) taking the final score line to 4-3.

In the men’s bronze medal match, backed by a boisterous home crowd, hosts Hockey Maharashtra beat Uttar Pradesh Hockey 6-4.

Devindar Walmiki continued his fine form in the tournament as he pumped in three goals for the host team in the 19th, 28th and 29th minutes while Vikram Pillay too (7’, 14’) scored twice to help the team win.

For Uttar Pradesh Hockey, Sumit Kumar (11’), Raj Kumar Pal (12’), Ajay Yadav (26’, 30’) were the goal scorers.  

Hockey Karnataka clinched the men’s title after beating Hockey Haryana 4-3 in a tense penalty shootout.