Punjab, Karnataka, Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra input ultimate four of Senior Males’s Nationwide Hockey Championship

Punjab, Karnataka, Uttar Pradesh and hosts Maharashtra moved into the semifinals on Saturday, with hard-fought wins within the 11th Hockey India Senior Males Nationwide Championship Pimpri Chinchwad 2021 on the Primary Dhyanchand Hockey Stadium.

Within the first quarterfinal, two-time champions Punjab left it overdue to down Chandigarh 2-1. Each targets have been scored by means of the skilled Tokyo Olympic bronze medallist Rupinder Good friend Singh.

After a goalless first part and the 3rd quarter, Punjab broke the impasse off a powerfully taken penalty nook by means of Rupinder Good friend Singh (46th) that deflected off a defender into the roof of the function.

Chandigarh levelled ratings 4 mins later when Arshdeep Singh (50th) deflected the ball into the Punjab function 1-1.

3 mins later, Rupinder’s low drag-flick beat Chandigarh goalkeeper Jashandeep Singh with tempo, which became out to be the winner.

Later, Bengal and Karnataka have been locked in an intense combat earlier than the latter received 3-2 thru a overdue winner by means of Ali Ansar A.M (58th) off a penalty nook.

Bengal was once first to head 1-Zero thru Alsem Lakra (ninth) which was once levelled by means of Karnataka’s Mohd. Raheel (21st) to make it 1-1.

Harish Mutagar (30th) then put Karnataka forward for the primary time changing a penalty nook, earlier than Bengal pulled stage by way of Abhishek Pratap Singh (40th) off a penalty nook.

Maharashtra took the ultimate quarterfinal slot downing Tamil Nadu with a 2-Zero win within the shoot out after enjoying out a 2-2 draw on the finish of complete time. The fit performed beneath lighting fixtures noticed each Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu create alternatives however the ranking remained tied.

Towards the run of play, hosts Maharashtra went 1-Zero thru Pratap Shinde (eighth) with a a hit penalty nook conversion. The function was once his 10th of the event, with they all coming off penalty corners.

Maharashtra keeper Akash Chikte repelled a string of assaults that incorporated reflex motion saves from the makes an attempt off Silver Stalin S and a deflection off a stiff opposite flick by means of Joshua Benedict Wesley.

On the different finish, Tamil Nadu survived when Pratap Shinde tapped the ball into the function beating Tamil Nadu keeper M Arun Prasadh by means of the narrowest of angles. Alternatively, the umpire felt in a different way and denied the function and awarded a penalty nook as an alternative.

Thereafter, Tamil Nadu received the higher hand and scored the equaliser thru Karthi S (46th) off a penalty nook after which added every other two mins later with a well-worked faucet in to make it 2-1.

Maharashtra driven tough for an equaliser and was once rewarded when Taleb Shah (60th) scored to push the sport into the ‘shoot out’.

For Maharashtra Darshan Gawkar, Venkatesh Kenche scored two times, whilst Taleb Shah, Moses Pullanthara overlooked their makes an attempt. Tamil Nadu may just now not convert a unmarried strive from the shoot out.

RESULTS

QF-1: Hockey Punjab: 2 (Rupinder Good friend Singh 46th, 53rd) bt Hockey Chandigarh: 1 (Arshdeep Singh 50th)

QF-2: Hockey Karnataka: 3 (Mohd. Raheel 21st, Harish Mutagar 30th, Ali Ansar A.M 58th) bt Hockey Bengal: 2 (Alsem Lakra ninth, Abhishek Pratap Singh 40th). HT: 2-1

QF-3: Uttar Pradesh Hockey: 2 (Mohammad Amir Khan 12th; Mohd. Sadiq 25th) bt Hockey Haryana: 1 (Mandeep 13th). HT: 2-1

QF4: Maharashtra: 2 (2) (Pratap Shinde eighth; Taleb Shah 60th) bt Tamil Nadu: 2 (0) (Karthi S 46th, 48th). HT: 1-0