Junior Women Hockey Championship: MP, Odisha reach quarters

Madhya Pradesh Hockey Academy booked their place in the quarter-finals of the 8th Hockey India Junior Women National Championship 2018 (A Division) after they played out a goalless draw against Delhi in their Pool A clash here on Tuesday.

Madhya Pradesh Hockey Academy needed a positive result in their last match to be able to qualify for the quarter-finals, and Delhi Hockey needed a win. But the former's defence made sure that their team registered a place in the next round with their second draw of the competition.

Madhya Pradesh finished at a top position with a tally of eight points.

In the other Pool A match, The Mumbai Hockey Association Ltd. registered their first win of the competition as they beat Gangpur-Odisha">Odisha 4-3.

Goals for The Mumbai Hockey Association Ltd. were scored by Ruchi Bhandari (3'), Lynette Lobo (9'), Manshi Belgaonkar (18') and skipper Resham Mahadik (60') while Topno Aten (20', 61') and skipper Jiwan Kishori Toppo (17') scored for Hockey Gangpur-Odisha">Odisha, who also qualified for the quarter-final with a second-place finish in Pool A.

In Pool B, Haryana registered a thumping 11-2 victory over Chhattisgarh to qualify for the quarter-finals as the second-placed team in the Pool.

Goals for Haryana were scored by Amandeep Kaur (9', 14', 24', 29'), Amrinder Kaur (7', 31', 54'), Reet (21'), Anu (45'), Kajal (63') and Manisha (64') while Anjali Mahto (33') and Anju Kerketta (67') scored the goals for Chhattisgarh.

In the other Pool B match, Odisha">Odisha defeated Hockey Unit of Tamil Nadu 10-1 to qualify for the last-eight as the Pool B toppers with a tally of 12 points from four matches.

Goals for Odisha">Odisha were scored by Elima Minz (8', 43', 59', 66'), Abinasi Mukti Surin (14', 45', 67'), Ashim Kanchan Barla (4', 55') and Neha Lakra (60') while M Janani (37') scored Hockey Unit of Tamil Nadu's only goal of the match.

In Pool C, Jharkhand qualified as the toppers with a tally of 12 points from four matches.

Jharkhand defeated Hockey Him 7-3 where goals for the winning team were scored by Simta Minz (22', 36'), Deepika Soreng (43', 55'), Sangita Kumari (11'), Beauty Dungdung (23') and Pinki Ekka (55') while Arti Kashyap (29'), Antim (39') and Manju Chorsiya (63') scored for Him.

In the other Pool C match, Uttar Pradesh defeated Coorg 8-1 to secure their third victory of the competition.

Goals for Uttar Pradesh Hockey were scored by Yogita Bora (20', 22', 39', 47'), Anshika Singh (10', 50'), Sonal Tiwari (31') and Akanksha Shukla (56') while M Devi (68') scored the only goal for Coorg.

In Pool D, Mizoram played out a 2-2 draw with Punjab to secure the top spot in the Pool with a tally of ten points.

Goals for Mizoram were scored by Lalrinfeli (1') and Lalrinpuii (43') while skipper Mitali (13') and Simranjit Kaur (22') scored for Punjab.

In the other Pool D match, Sports Authority of India secured their spot in the quarter-finals with an emphatic 13-2 win over Uttarakhand.

Goals for Sports Authority of India were scored by skipper Monika Sihag (5', 37', 40', 42', 43'), Betan Dung Dung (4', 8', 38'), Sumanpreet Kaur (20', 31', 69') and Gayatri Kissan (3', 50') while Mamta Bhatt (67') and Parameshwari (70') scored the goals for Uttarakhand.

Madhya Pradesh will now face Haryana, Mizoram will take on Uttar Pradesh, Odisha">Odisha will lock horns with Gangpur-Odisha">Odisha and Jharkhand will compete against Sports Authority of India in the quarter-finals of the championship.