Women’s Khelo India Youth Games Qualifiers: MP, UP, Punjab, Karnataka win opening matches. | Popgen Tech

Bhubaneswar, December 21 (IANS): Top sides Hockey Madhya Pradesh, Hockey Karnataka, Hockey Jharkhand and Hockey Punjab collected three points each in the opening match of the Women’s U-18 qualifier for the Khelo India Youth Games 2022 in Bhubaneswar on Tuesday.

Hockey Mizoram and Hockey Association of Odisha shared one point after drawing the game.

The first match in Pool A saw Hockey Madhya Pradesh defeat Hockey Haryana 3-1. Hockey Madhya Pradesh took the lead with a goal by Soniya Kumre (11′) but Hockey Haryana soon equalized as Ishika (17′) converted the penalty corner. Hockey Madhya Pradesh came roaring back in the second half scoring two penalties from Swati (34′) and Bhumiksha Sahu (51′) to seal the victory.

Hockey Mizoram and Hockey Association of Odisha played out a 1-1 draw in the second match of Pool A. Hockey Mizoram’s Z Landintluangi (8′) gave his team the lead after a penalty corner but Hockey Association of Odisha fight until the end. and saved a point through Pratibha Ekka’s late equalizer (57′).

The final match in Pool A saw Hockey Karnataka beat Hockey Maharashtra 4-1. Hockey Karnataka started scoring early with Gedela Gayatri (7′), Meher Kaur Mehta (13′), Kavyashree MD (15′), and captain Dechamma Ganapathi (19′) scoring a goal each. Hockey Maharashtra captain Himanshi Gawande (20′) scored a consolation goal for his team, informed Hockey India in a release on Tuesday.

The Pool B action started with a match between Hockey Jharkhand and Uttar Pradesh Hockey, with the former winning easily 5-1. Niru Kullu (4′) and Sanjna Horo (7′) scored for Jharkhand Hockey to take a 2-0 lead, but Himanshi Gupta (15′) scored a penalty corner to pull one back for Uttar Pradesh Hockey. Shortly after, Pramodni Lakra (20′, 53′, 58′) scored a hat-trick to put the match away from his opponents.

Pool B second match between Hockey Punjab and Manipur Hockey saw the 5-1 scoreline replayed in favor of Hockey Punjab. Sukhveer Kaur (14′) opened the scoring for Hockey Punjab by scoring a penalty kick followed by a goal from Gurjeet Kaur (17′). Laishram Ritu Devi (33′) scored in the second half to lift Manipur Hockey’s spirits but Captain Jaisikdeep Kaur (34′), Ravneet Kaur (41′), and Pawanpreet Kaur (44′) scored soon after to confirm Hockey’s victory Punjab. .

The Pool B clash between Hockey Chandigarh and Hockey Bihar was lost in favor of Hockey Bihar.