A dying moment goal by Anu helped Haryana pip Jharkhand 2-1 to win the Girls Hockey title and gold in the Khelo India School Games at Dhyan Chand National Stadium, New Delhi on Thursday.
Interestingly both the teams were involved in the first and the last match of the competition.
In the opening league match Haryana had beaten Jharkhand 4-2 and though this morning the margin was cut down to exactly half still Haryana had the last laugh.
Earlier Punjab survived some anxious moments to put it across Chandigarh 5-4 to claim the bronze.
The final turned out to be an engrossing affair with both the teams giving their best to earn the distinction of winning the inaugural competition.
However the victory margin is not a true reflection of domination Haryana girls enjoyed.
In the first half the winners muffed three good chances ,two off penalty corners and one solo effort. Jharkhand on the other hand earned six penalty corners but failed to convert any of them. At half time Jharkhand led 1-0
Haryana strikers Manju and Komal spearheaded their teams charge but could not breach the rival’s crowded defence. The winners were rudely rattled in the 32nd minute when Jharkhand launched a tearing counter attack and in-form Subhani Bhengra made no mistake in sent the ball home (1-0)after being set up by Beauty Dung Dung.
Eight minutes into the second half Haryana drew parity with skipper Sharmila scoring off a penalty corner.(1-1) Spurred by this equalizers, the winners went flat out on the offensive forcing their rivals to retreat.
Having taken control of the mid field, Haryana forwards attacked from all sides but goal eluded them. Manju, Komal Jyoti made solo attempts only to be foiled by the rival defenders.
As time ticked away and possibility of penalty shootout loomed large, Haryana struck through Anu who intercepted a rebound and slammed the ball home (2-1) giving no chance to Jharkhand to retaliate.
Haryana coach Nitin Sabharwal later said that his players played well.” we should have won with much higher margin”
“We had beaten Jharkhand earlier, were aware of their tactics and game plan and we planned our strategy accordingly which worked well”
Jharkhand team manager Pradeep Mirdha opined “My girls played good but could not convert the chances that came their way”
For the third place ,three goals by Simranjeet Kaur enabled Punjab quell Chandigarh ‘s second half upsurge.
For the winners who led 2-1 at half time,other goal scorers were Baljeet Kaur and Mitali (one each). For the losers Sonu (2), Barkha and Monu (one each ) scored.