Orissa edge past defending champions Jharkhand to enter finals

Bangalore, May 22 (UNI) Orissa will take on Delhi in the title clash for the 14th National Sub-Junior Women's Hockey Championship here, as it shunted out defending champions Jharkhand 5-4 via sudden death in the semifinals today.

In the second semifinal, Delhi edged out Uttar Pradesh 1-0.

Sudden death was applied as Orissa and Jharkhand were locked one-all even after the extra time. The deadlock could not be broken in the tie breaker as the two teams remained level at 4-4. When sudden death was applied, Jharkhand's striker Shilavanti missed the chance, while Banitha Kindo sounded the boards to put Orissa in the title round.

In a fiercely fought encounter, Binita put Orissa in the lead through a superb field goal in the 13th minute. However, Jharkhand levelled through Sushanta Bindra in the 52nd minute.

In the tie-breaker Binita, Satrita Bara and Rosalin Dung Dung scored for Orissa and for Jharkhand Anitha Tiru, Sushma Tiru and Sheelavanti were successful.

For Delhi, Savitha slammed home the all important goal in the 62nd minute. Uttar Pradesh, which shocked last year runner-up Haryana in the quarterfinals on May 20, failed to maintain their tempo as they could not encash as many as five penalty corners which came their way.

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