Railways storm into semis with 7-0 rout of UP

Sonepat, Jan 27 (PTI) Star studded Railways stormed intothe semi-finals of the first Hockey India Senior NationalWomen Championship, routing Uttar Pradesh 7-0 at the MotilalNehru Sports School, here today.

India internationals Jasjeet Kaur Handa (14th minute,28th, 44th) scored three goals while skipper Saba Anjum (11thpenalty corner, 17th) and Deepika Thakur (7th and 56th)accounted for two each to round off the tally for Railways.

Railways were joined in the last four stage by Punjab,Orissa and Haryana, who overcame stiff resistance fromKarnataka, Jharkhand and Madhya Pradesh Sports and YouthAffairs respectively in their quarter-final encounters.

In another quarter-final, Punjab came from behind to beatKarnataka 2-1 in a pulsating encounter.

After a goalless first half, Kulsumbi DC put Karnatakaahead converting a penalty corner in the 52nd minute.

But Punjab equalised seven minutes later through defenderHarmanjeet Kaur and then Thokchom Anuradha Devi scored thewinner four minutes from the hooter.

Orissa also struggled to beat neighbours Jharkhand by asolitary 50th minute goal scored by Nolo Lilima.

In the final last eight match of the day, hosts Haryanawere subjected to anxious moments before they edged pastMadhya Pradesh Sports and Youth Affairs 5-4 in the tie breakerafter the two teams were locked 1-1 at the regulation time.

Navjot put Haryana ahead at the stroke of half time witha firmly driven penalty corner past goalkeeper EtimarpuRajani.

However Pinky Devi Thokchom found the equaliser forMadhya Pradesh Sports and Youth Welfare in the 59th minutefrom another penalty corner.

In the tie breaker that followed Meenakshi, Jaspreet,Surinder Kaur and Ramandeep Kaur scored for Haryana whileRaina Yadav, Ranjeeta Sanasam and Rijuta Mullick found themark for the losers.

In the semi-finals to be played on Saturday after a restday tomorrow, Punjab will play Railways while Orissa will beup against Haryana.