MP crush Maharashtra in QF

 

 

 

HOCKEY Maharashtra suffered a humiliating defeat at the hands of Madhya Pradesh in quarter-finals of the 13th Hockey India Junior Women National Championship 2023 on Tuesday at Birsa Munda Hockey Stadium in Rourkela, Odisha. In the quarter-finals, Madhya Pradesh, who are on song in the tournament, thrashed Himanshi Gawande led side 9-0 to storm into the semi-final.

 

Nagpur’s Himanshi, the captain of the team, could not pump up her mates as they conceded goals in heap. Maharashtra, who topped Pool D with an all win record, could not match the speed and skills of their neighbouring State-mate Madhya Pradesh who topped Pool E. Madhya Pradesh pushed Maharashtra to the wall with four quick goals in the first quarter itself. Sonia Devi slotted the ball home in the 5th minute to open the account for Hockey Madhya Pradesh. Soniya Kumre then doubled the lead a minute later and Bhumika Sahu and Jyoti Singh scored two swift goals in 11th to make it 4-0. Stunned by the reversal, Maharashtra could not revive themselves. Soniya Kumre scored two more goals in 18th and 50th minute while Bhumika added one more to her kitty in the 44th minute. In between Gurmail Kaur (27th) and Aashrita Thakur (43rd) scored a goal each to seal their spot in the semi-finals.