Ranchi (Jharkhand), The 8th Hockey India Senior Women National Championship 2018 (A Division) began today at the Astro Turf Hockey Stadium in Ranchi, Jharkhand where 20 top teams from across the country will vie for honours over the next ten days. The first match of the day saw a star-studded Railway Sports Promotion Board team featuring Indian national team players take on Hockey Unit of Tamil Nadu.
The Railways Sports Promotion Board team proved to be too good for Hockey Unit of Tamil Nadu as they won 18-0. It was Priyanka Wankhede (12’, 17’, 25’, 26’, 40’ and 52’) who starred in their victory with six sensational goals including a penalty corner conversion, Sushila Chanu Pukhrambam scored two PCs (2’, 50’) while Anupa Barla (6’, 42’), Va
dana Katariya (9’), Navneet Kaur (20’, 23’, 45’), Neha Goyal (14’), Deepika (28’, 51’) and Sanarik Chanu Ningombam scored in Railways Sports Promotion Board’s stunning victory.
In another match, Hockey Punjab got the better of Chhattisgarh Hockey with a strong 6-1 win. Hockey Punjab featuring India’s ace dragflicker and defender Gurjit Kaur was efficient right from the start. It was Amrinder Kaur’s 2nd minute goal that put them ahead 1-0 while Anu Bala and Gurjit Kaur’s 21st and 37th minute PC conversion respectively earned them a strong 3-0 lead. Navjeet Kaur scored a splendid field goal in the 40th minute to take their lead to a comfortable 4-0. Though Pooja Singh converted a penalty stroke for Chhattisgarh Hockey in the 42nd minute, Hockey Punjab went on to score two more goals through Amrinder Kaur and Lovedeep Kaur in the 49th and 55th minute to end the game in favour of Hockey Punjab 6-1.
In the third match of the day, Hockey Haryana beat Hockey Karnataka by a narrow 2-1 score line. It was Ramya N of Hockey Karnataka who stunned goal keeper Savita, when she converted a well-struck PC in the 6th minute to take a 1-0 lead. But Hockey Haryana immediately bounced back with an equalizer in the 8th minute through Ritu’s PC. Both teams fought closely in the next two quarters, not allowing successful penetration into their striking circles but a relentless Hockey Haryana found success in the 58th minute when Manpreet Kaur struck a penalty stroke to win 2-1.
In the fourth match of the day, Hockey Odisha clinched a superb 8-1 win against Hockey Bhopal to begin their campaign in style. Goals were scored by Kanchan Barla Ashim (7’, 36’), Sangeeta Rose Kullu (18’), Mariana Kujur (22’), Dipti Lakra (23’), Rashmita Minz (28’, 48’) and Namita Toppo (52’) for Hockey Odisha while Ritusha Arya (20’) was the lone goal scorer for Hockey Bhopal. In another match, Hockey Madhya Pradesh scored an easy 10-0 win against Assam Hockey. It was Lily Chanu Mayengbam (15’, 28’ 40’, 44′) who starred in their win with four goals while Shivani Singh (13’) and Jaspreet Kaur (38’, 58′), Rakhi Prajapti (48′), Soundarya Yendala (59′) and Nilanjali Rai (60′) scored in Hockey Madhya Pradesh’s win.
