SUBHASH MISHRA
Dhanbad, June 13: Jharkhand girls hockey team became 66th School Games Federation of India (SGFI) national champion defeating host Madhya Pradesh 5-0 in the final played at Gwalior Pullela Gopichand Madhya Pradesh Sports Academy.
The Jharkhand team were leading 3-0 till half time and scored two more goals in the second half to clinch a glittering trophy, a mark of supremacy in school hockey of the country.
Star player Nisha Minj scored two goals for the team while Pinki Kumari, Rajni Kerketta and Bato Horo scored one goal each to ensure champion trophy for Jharkhand. The final match started in the late evening ( at around 8.30) of Monday and the match was fixed for 60 minutes.
Earlier. in the semifinal Jharkhand girls had defeated Delhi team 12-0.
Despite the local crowd supporting the host team Madhya Pradesh , the Jharkhand team displaying outstanding coordination, skills and understanding dominated over rivals and outclassed them in attacking and defensive games both.
While the strong defense line of Jharkhand never allowed their rival players to sneak in their area, the star studded forward line of Jharkhand ripped apart rival defense and scored the goal at their will.
Rajni Kerketta opened the account for Jharkhand in the 5th minute of play and 14 minutes later Nisha Minj scored the second goal in 18th minute of play.
Jharkhand girls continued their control on the ball and five minutes before first half Pinki Kumar swelled the lead to 3-0 in 25th minute of play.
In the second half the pattern of the match was unchanged . Jharkhand girls continued their dominance. Nisha Minj scored 4th goal of the team in very 1st minute. Ten minutes later Bato Horo hit 5th goal in 41st minute and ensured the champion trophy for Jharkhand.
Chief coach Deepak Kumar Mehta, assistant coach Rakesh Roshan Tigga, chief team manager Emma Bara, assistant manager Sumit Kachhap and head of the squad Bela Toppo hailed the victory of the state team and said Jharkhand girls played like true champions and proved it by winning.
Dhirseng Soreng, the coordinator of Jharkhand Education Project Council (JEPC) and nodal officer of SGFI was also present during the final match in the stadium and encouraged the girls .
