Karnataka’s men end National Games hockey title drought with sudden death win over Uttar Pradesh
The Hindu
Rani Rampal’s goal the difference as Haryana pip Punjab to the women’s title
Uttar Pradesh’s luck ran out finally in the penalty shootout as Karnataka prevailed in sudden death to win the men’s hockey gold of the 36th National Games at the Dhyanchand Hockey Stadium here on Tuesday.
Earlier, Haryana won the women’s the women’s title with a solitary goal win over Punjab.
In an engrossing men’s final, Karnataka stared at defeat when it trailed 1-2 with four minutes remaining. However, Harish Mutagar scored the equaliser to take the match to penalties.
The scores were even after five attempts in the shootout. In sudden death, Karnataka goalkeeper Jagdeep Dayal denied Rajkumar Pal to put pressure on UP’s goalkeeper Prashant Kumar, who had helped his side win the shootouts against West Bengal (quarterfinals) and Maharashtra (semifinals).
But Prasanth fouled attacker Mohammed Raheel Moussen and conceded a penalty stroke. Raheel converted the stroke to end Karnataka’s title drought in the National Games.
UP started with a flourish earning four penalty corners in the opening five minutes. But the UP penalty corner drills were predictable which Karnataka’s defence handled well.
Karnataka went ahead through a brilliant counterattack. After neutralising another UP penalty corner, defender Sasi Gowda played a long ball to N.M. Surya, who passed to Abharan Sudev who had made his way into the shooting D.