Railways win first Hockey India senior women national championships

Patna, January 30, 2011: Railways annexed the inaugural Hockey India Senior Women National Championships as they trounced hosts Haryana 7-1 at Motilal Nehru Sports School at Rai, Sonepat on Sunday.

According to a Hockey India Press release, the star-studded virtual Indian team led 5-1 at the breather finding no answer from the Haryana squad which was handicapped with the absence of international Mamta Kharab due to injury, thus leaving the attack responsibility to India skipper Surinder Kaur.

But the Railways meant business as captain Saba Anjum deflected a penalty corner home in the 2nd minute.The Railways second goal came ten minutes later with striker Rani slotting past goalkeeper Savita after being set up by Chanchan Devi.

The Railways appeared to go on a rampage as they found the target again in quick succession with two goals in as many minutes.Midfielder Asunta Lakra first struck a blinder in the 14th minute and Deepika Thakur made no mistake as she ripped past Haryana defenders Jaspreet Kaur and Jaswinder in the 15th minute.

The Railways domination continued as they found their fifth goal in the 27th minute with Jasjeet Kaur Handa making no mistake.

Haryana were able to get a consolation goal two minutes before half time with a softly hit penalty corner by full back Sandeep Kaur which rolled past Railways goalkeeper Deepika Murty.

The hosts however put up a semblance of a fight in the second half as they fell back defending inside their striking circle thus denying their rival forwards Rani, Jasjeet, Saba and Chanchan space.

However Railways again found themselver on the score sheet in the 53rd minute with Rani striking from a pass by Kirandeep Kaur, while defender Joydeep Kaur rounded off the tally from a 66th minute penalty corner conversion to script a fluent victory.

Earlier a hat trick by Elin Lakra enabled Orissa to beat Punjab 5-3 to win the bronze medal.

Orissa opened their account in the 3rd minute when Lilima Minz reverse tapped past Punjabcustodian Gursharan Kaur.

Punjab found the equaliser in the 23rd minute with a penalty corner conversion by Vartika Singh.

However they conceded the lead to their rivals again in the 31st minute with Elin Lakra making no mistake from a penalty corner.

Orissa increase their tally after the break with Elin again on target with a corner conversion in the 43rd minute.

Punjab pulled one back three minutes later with Anuradha Thokchom converting a penalty stroke awarded after Lalremruati was brought down in the striking circle.

Orissa however were undetered and went on to score their fourth goal in the 48th minute when Elin struck again from open play and further consolidated their lead when she found the target again from a set piece.

Thokchom was able to score the third goal for Punjab in the dying minutes but that was not good enough for a win.