Senior Women’s Nationals: Manipur and Karnataka Secure Quarterfinal Berths in Hockey Pool G
The league stage of the 14th Hockey India Senior Women National Championship concluded on Tuesday with Karnataka and Manipur winning their respective Pool G matches at the Major Dhyanchand Hockey Stadium Pimpri. In Tuesday’s games, Manipur and Karnataka won their respective matches in Pool G.
Manipur Hockey wins three in three to top Pool G:
Manipur defeated Uttarakhand 11-2 in the final match of the league stage to qualify for the knock-outs. Sarita Dev Bramhacharimayum (8’, 24’), Prabhleen Kaur (14’, 45’) and Chingshubam Sanggai Ibemhal (53’, 60’) scored braces while Vartika Rawat (5’), Sonia Devi Kshetrimayum (7’), Ranjita Sanasam (44’), captain Lily Chanu Mayengbam (57’) and Chanu Lanchenbi Khundrakpam (59’) scored a goal each for Manipur. The two goals for Uttarakhand were field goals that came from the sticks of Komal Dhami (36’) and Monika Chand (41’).
Hockey Karnataka ends their campaign on a high:
Earlier in the day, Karnataka defeated Dadra & Nagar Haveli and Daman & Diu 13-0. Captain of Hockey Karnataka Kruthika SP (15’, 26’, 56’, 56’) led from the front with four goals while MG Yashika (20’, 38’, 58’) scored a hat-trick, Chandana J (33’, 37’) scored a brace and Adira S (43’), Prashu Singh Parihar (48’), Anjali H R (55’) and Gedela Gayatri (60’) scored a goal each.
With the top team from each Pool qualifying for the knock-outs, the stage is set for some high-octane action and top-quality hockey. All the quarter-finals are scheduled to take place on March 20th with the winners going through to the semis that are to be played on March 22.
The first quarter-final will be played between defending champions Madhya Pradesh and Bengal. Led by Indian women’s hockey team defender Ishika Chaudhary, Madhya Pradesh beat Chhattisgarh 8-0 and Bihar 7-1 to top Pool A and qualify for the knockouts. Bengal on the other hand defeated Tamil Nadu 2-0, Telangana 11-0, and Gujarat 28-0 to top Pool H.
Hosts Maharashtra will face off against Manipur in the second quarter-final. Beating Delhi 3-0 and Kerala 10-0, Maharashtra finished in first place in Pool B while Manipur defeated Dadra & Nagar Haveli and Daman & Diu 12-0, Karnataka 3-0 and Uttarakhand 11-2 to finish first in Pool G.
