Orissa girls emerge Sub-junior hockey champions

Bangalore, May 23: Orissa emerged champions notching up an impressive 2-0 win over Delhi in the finals of the 18th National Sub-Junior Girls Hockey Championship held at KSHA stadium here today.

The new champions scored a goal in each half through Roselin Dung Dung, who put the winners in the lead with a superb field effort in the 23th minute, and Binita Kindo, who sounded the boards converting a penalty corner in the 52nd minute, to emerge as worthy winners.

Dominated by highly talented tribal girls in the line up, Orissa, who had a brilliant run before advancing into the title clash, held the upper hand over their rivals throughout the encounter. The Delhi girls, who failed to counter the swift attacks by Orissa forwards, played a better game in the second half but poor finish cost them the match.

The perennial problem of penalty conversion was seen in the sub-junior level too as out of 12 short corners the two teams equally shared, only one could be converted.

While Kindo, with her fine ball control proved a constant threat to the rivals, Delhi's center forward Monika matched her opposite number but lacked support from her teammates.

In the play-off match for the the third spot, defending champions Jharkhand defeated Uttar Pradesh 3-1.

Orissa skipper Binita Xess was adjudged the best forward of the Championship. Other individual honours was bagged by Renuka Soren of Jharkhand (best goal keeper), Sarita Bara of Orissa (best full back), Kajal Mallik of UP (best half back) and Monika of Delhi (most promising player).

UNI