Hockey Maharashtra beat Assam Hockey by 3-1 goals in the12th Hockey India Sub-Junior Women National Championship 2022 played at Hockey Stadium, Khuman Lampak on Friday.
The Pool E match saw Maharashtra and Assam matching sticks in the first two quarters, but Maharashtra gained the lead in the second quarter play of the 30th minute when skipper Sukanya Dhaware connected to the goal from a penalty corner.
However, Assam lost no time in searching the equaliser and got the break in the 33rd minute of the third quarter when Neeshu Vihan delivered a penalty corner to level 1-1 goals. The slight drizzle of rain proved more energising for the team and it was team Maharashtra, which calculated their moves and brought up the difference with Sanajana Khetawat scoring from a field goal in the 40th minute for the lead.
Gaining more confidence, Maharashtra continued their attacks and it was left to Hetal Goswami, who pushed the winning goal in the 54rd minute for the victory today.
In the other matches played earlier in the day, Hockey Madhya Pradesh blanked Hockey Uttarakhand by 3-0 goals from Pool D.
Madhya Pradesh came up with an early goal from Hirva Purohit in the 4th minute of play. Though Uttarakhand tried their best to get the equaliser, their shot missed the mark.
Although the tempo of the game was far from satisfactory, Madhya Pradesh lightened up the moment when they struck in quick succession in the third quarter with Tahur Naaz in the 35th minute and Gungun Kaur in the 39th minute for the victory.
Chattisgarh Hockey drubbed Hockey Gujarat by 7-0 goals in Pool C match. Aradhana Rajbhar and Geeta Yadav scored two goals each while Sanjana Raikwar, skipper Raj Rani and Shalu Sonkar fetched a goal each.
In a Pool A match, Hockey Bengal got the better of Jammu & Kashmir by 2-1 goals. Barsha Mondal fetched the opening goal for Bengal in the 28th minute of the second quarter. But J&K skipper Palvi Devi managed to fetch the equaliser in the 41st minute to level 1-1 goals in the third quarter. However Bengal's consistent run paid off when Sumaiya Sultana came up with the winning goal in the 51st minute.
