Chandigarh hockey Academy enter semis in Challenge Cup

Chandigarh, Oct 19 (UNI) Hosts Chandigarh Hockey Academy qualified for the semi-final by topping group B after routing Cheema Hockey Academy of Batala by 7-0 in the first Administrator's Challenge Cup Hockey Tournament for Under-17 at the Sector 42 Hockey Stadium here today.

The hosts completed their league programme with an all-win record in the three-team group B schedule. Cheema Hockey Academy finished their league programme with a win over Hyderabad Hockey Academy and today's defeat.

In a pool C encounter, Mehta Gurukul Hockey Academy of Doraha and Sector 42 Coaching Centre, Chandigarh played a one-all draw and split points. Both have identical tally of two points from one win and one draw each. In this pool Punjab and Sind Bank are sitting pretty having won two matches they have played so far. They play their last league fixture against Sector 42 Coaching Centre tomorrow.

The Chandigarh Hockey Academy (CHA) boys started asserting themselves from the beginning. However, there was no scoring in the first half. On resumption CHA went all out and were one goal up in the 40th minute after Gurjinder converted a penalty corner.

Gurjinder converted another penalty corner in the 64th minute for his team's fifth goal.

Damandeep also contributed a brace by scoring in the 47th and 60th minutes. Abhijit (58th), Kanwaldeep (67th) and Gagandeep (68th) contributed one goal each for the winners.

The CHA were awarded eight penalty corners. They could take advantage of only two. Cheema Academy missed two penalty corners.

In another pool C match Mehta Gurukul Academy and Sector 42 Coaching Centre played a one-all draw. Mehta Academy scored through Jaswinder Singh in the 55th minute and Sector 42 Coaching Centre neutralised the lead in the 65th minute.

Lucknow Hockey Academy were the first team to qualify for semi-finals from pool D.

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