Indian Railways emerged champions after overcoming a resilient Punjab 3-1 in the final of the 6th Senior National women hockey championship here on Sunday.
A strike from Ritusha Arya Kumari in the 34th minute and two late successful penalty strokes from Navneet Kaur in the 54th and 57th minutes decided the outcome in favour of Railways.
Hardeep Kaur netted the solitary goal for Punjab in the 35th minute.
The match started in a drab manner with both teams battling for possession in the midfield. Ritusha, who was left unmarked in the striking area, could have opened the scoring in the 10th minute but her hit from the edge of the cirle went wide of the target.
By the second quarter, Railways began to assert their authority by keeping possession, but couldn’t get past the Punjab defence that kept their oppositon at bay for most of the period.
Railways finally broke through when Ritusha collected a good pass from Anupa Barla and placed it to the bottom corner of the goal, past Punjab’s goalkeeper Jaspreet Kaur.
A rattled Punjab responded immediately. In the very next minute, Amandeep Kaur’s pass found Hardeep unguarded in the striking area, and she slammed it past Railway goalkeeper Dipika Gongala Murthy.
Railways, then went for an all-out attack and earned a penalty stroke in the 54th minute after infringement inside the D during a penalty corner. Navneet stepped up and slotted it past a helpless Jaspreet.
Railways kept attacking and got another penalty stroke decision in their favour after Ritusha was fouled inside the circle during the penalty corner. Navneet came in and placed it on the top left corner of the goal in the 57th minute.
Results: Final: Railway Sports Promotion Board: 3 (Ritusha Arya Kumar 34th, Navneet Kaur 54th, 57th) bt Punjab: 1 (Hardeep Kaur 35th).
3rd/4th place: Madhya Pradesh Hockey Academy: 2 (Ishika Chaudhary 12th, Karishma Singh 25th) bt Odisha: 1 (Asmita Barla 40th).
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