Sub-junior South Zone hockey: Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu top women's, men's sections

Chennai, Oct 23 (IANS) Hockey Andhra Pradesh and Hockey Unit of Tamil Nadu advanced to the final as the group stage of the 1st Hockey India Sub Junior Men & Women South Zone Championship 2023 concluded in Chennai, Tamil Nadu, on Monday.   

In the Sub=junior Women’s category, Hockey Andhra Pradesh secured the top position with 12 points, closely followed by Hockey Unit of Tamil Nady at 11 points. 

Having secured the top two places in the points table, Hockey Andhra Pradesh and Hockey Unit of Tamil Nadu have confirmed their place in the Final and will meet on Tuesday for the title.

Hockey Karnataka and Kerala Hockey claimed the third and fourth positions with 10 and 7 points respectively and will face off in the 3rd/4th place match. 

In the Sub-junior Men’s category, the Hockey Unit of Tamil Nadu emerged as the table toppers with 13 points while Hockey Karnataka finished second with 11 points. 

The two teams will now face in the Final on Tuesday evening. Hockey Andhra Pradesh and Le Puducherry Hockey finished in third and fourth positions with 9 and 6 points respectively and will lock horns in the 3rd/4th place match.

In the first match of the day, the Hockey Unit of Tamil Nadu defeated Le Puducherry Hockey 6-0 in the Sub-junior Women's category. For the Hockey Unit of Tamil Nadu, captain Swathi S (8’, 19’) and Swathi Sharma S (6’, 42’) scored two goals each, while Priyadharsini K (57’) and Harita J (9’) scored one goal each. 

In the second match, Hockey Karnataka triumphed over Kerala Hockey 8-1. For Hockey Karnataka, Kotyan Pratheeksha P (5’, 8’, 33’, 34’, 50’) scored five goals, while Dechakka S K (11’), Thimmaiah K P Akshara (24’) and Vyshnavi Arul (60’) scored one goal each. For Kerala Hockey, Lekshmi D (44’) scored the lone goal.

In the third match, Hockey Andhra Pradesh defeated Telangana Hockey 13-0. For Hockey Andhra Pradesh, Kuppa Tulasi (27’, 31’, 41’, 50’) netted four goals, Captain Thirumalasetty Sree Vidya (15’, 45’, 47’) netted three goals, while Vaishnavi Mandala (28’, 39’), Lakshmi Pariki (5’, 10’) and Pujari Madhurima Bai (8’, 25’) scored two goals each.

In the Men’s category, in the first match, Hockey Karnataka defeated Telangana Hockey 9-0. For Hockey Karnataka, captain Suprith G (6’, 20’, 56’) and Jashan Thammaiah M C (13’, 14’, 48’) netted three goals each, while Deekshith H H (7’, 35’) scored two goals and Belliappa A U Naman (30’) scored one goal.

In the second match, Hockey Andhra Pradesh defeated Le Puducherry Hockey 3-2. For Hockey Andhra Pradesh, Devatha Yaswanth (10’, 56’) netted two goals, and Gandi Chandu (60’) scored one goal, while for Le Puducherry Hockey, Anbupathi (4’) and Aakash (40’) were on target. 

In the last match of the day, the Hockey Unit of Tamil Nadu defeated Kerala Hockey 7-0. For the Hockey Unit of Tamil Nadu, captain Sugumar M (4’, 24’) scored two goals, Renjith (51’, 59’) scored two goals, while Sundarajith M (41’), Nagarajan (42’) and Murugeshwaran A (14’) scored one goal each.

--IANS

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