Maharashtra today saw tough battles among the top teams: India Senior Men National Hockey Championship 2015

5th edition of the Hockey India Senior Men National Hockey Championship 2015 (Div B) see close-fought battles among top teams

Pune (Maharashtra), 9 April 2015: The 5th edition of the Hockey India Senior Men National Hockey Championship 2015 being played in Pune, Maharashtra today saw tough battles among the top teams and best teams managed to continue their winning run. In the fourth day, Himachal Hockey outplayed Sashastra Seema Bal by 4-2, followed by Chandigarh Olympic Association defeated Dadra & Nagar Haveli by 4-2 and Central Industrial Security Force held Central Reserve Police Force by inspiring 1-1 result. In the last match of the day, Hockey Puducherry stunned Hockey Bihar by a 1-1 draw.

- Hockey Himachal edges past Sashastra Seema Bal 4-2

- Chandigarh Olympic Association outplays Dadra & Nagar Haveli Hockey Association 4-2

- Central Industrial Security Force holds Central Reserve Police Force 1-1

- Hockey Puducherry stuns Hockey Bihar with a 1-1 draw

In the first match, Hockey Himachal edged past Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB) by 4-2 in a hard-fought Pool H league match. Vinod Durga's brace helped Himachal team to come back in the match and clinch the victory from the opponent. SSB took the early lead with Chandra Singh scored the first goal in the 12thminute for his team and his team maintained 1-0 scoreline in the first half of the match. Himachal's Naurvi sneaked into opponent's half and scored a spectacular goal in 43rd minute to equalise the score by 1-1. Without giving any moment to overcome from the shock, star player Vinod extended the lead in the next minute with his first goal against SSB. However, SSB managed to earn a penalty corner in 49th minute and Gunamani Singh converted it into equaliser. At the score 2-2, Vinod again came from the back and scored the third goal for his team and increased the lead by 3-2. In the 59th minute, Himachal earned a Penalty Stroke, which was easily converted by Kulwant Singh in the fourth goal. SSB lost the match by 2-4 despite getting early lead.

In the Pool G league match, Chandigarh Olympic Association outplayed Dadra & Nagar Haveli Hockey Association by 4-2 with the help of penalty corner specialist Gagandeep Singh's conversion of two penalty corners. In the 23rd minute, Chandigarh earned a penalty corner and Gagandeep converted it into the first goal with as ease. However, Dadra & Nagar Haveli managed to earn a penalty corner in the next minute (24th minute) and Captain Amrit Kiro successfully converted it to equalise the score 1-1. Substitute Jai Kishan Singh extended the lead in the 36th minute with his brilliant goal. Trailing by 1-2, Chandigarh played a very aggressive game and they earned another penalty corner in 37th minute, which was again converted by the specialist Gagandeep to level the score-line 2-2. With this equaliser, Gurjinder Singh and another Gagandeep Singh scored two goals in 42nd and 51st minutes respectively to win the match by 4-2.

In the Group F league match, Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) held Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) by 1-1 in a nail-biting match. Both the teams fought hard to score the first goal in the first Half but they failed to over-power each-other. CRPF drew the first blood in the 40th minute when Bikash Kujur out-foxed the defenders and scored the first goal of the match. CRPF continued their attacking game and managed to maintain the lead till the last minute. However, CISF earned a crucial penalty corner in 60thminute, which was converted perfectly by Neeraj Yadav to equalise the score 1-1. With this goal, CISF considered it a victory for their team as they managed to hold a superior team.

In the last match of the day, Hockey Puducherry played a gutsy game and drew with Hockey Bihar with an impressive 1-1 score in Pool G. From the beginning, Puducherry players gave a tough fight to Hockey Bihar. However, Bihar scored the first goal in the 26th minute with the help of substitute Rakesh Roshan Ekka who managed to breach into opponent's defence and shot the ball in the goal-box. After the Half-Time, Puducherry skipper M Jayaraj led from the front and scored a brilliant goal to equalise the score 1-1. Through-out the match, Puducherry displayed an outstanding determination and gave punched above their weight to get the desirable result.

Results of the Day

Pool H - Hockey Himachal 4 Naurvi (43min-FG), Vinod Durga (44min-FG, 57min-FG), Kulwant Singh (59min-PS) vs Sashstra Seema Bal 2 Chandra Singh (12min-FG), Gunamani Singh (49min-PS)

Pool G - Chandigarh Olympic Association 4 Gagandeep Singh (23min-PC, 37min-PC), Gurjinder Singh (42min-FG), Gagandeep Singh (51min-FG) vs Dadra & Nagar Haveli Hockey Association 2 Amrit Kiro (24min-PC), Jai Kishan Singh (36min-FG)

Pool F - Central Reserve Police Force 1 Bikash Kujur (40min-FG) vs Central Industrial Security Force 1 Neeraj Yadav (60min-PC)

Pool G-Hockey Bihar 1 Rakesh Roshan Ekka (26min-FG) vs Hockey Puducherry 1 M Jayaraj (39min-FG)

SCHEDULE FOR - 10 APRIL 2015 (Friday)