PUNE: Favourites Odisha and Haryana took their places in Tuesday’s final of the Men’s Under-21 hockey final of the Khelo India Youth Games 2019 in contrasting fashion.
In the semi-finals, Haryana outplayed neighbours Punjab 3-1, while Odisha were stretched in beating Uttar Pradesh 2-1. In women’s Under-17 and Under-21 action at the Mahindra Hockey Stadium, Punjab, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh emerged winners on the day.
In the men’s U-21 semis, Haryana rode on goals from skipper Mandeep Mor (12th), Yashdeep Siwach (45th) and Kuldeep (46th) to get the better of Punjab 3-1 with some ease.
The second semi-final was a much closer affair with Odisha having to work hard for their 2-1 result. Odisha rammed in two goals within the opening six minutes through Nilam Sanjeep Xess (4th) and Krishna Tirkey (6th) to set UP on their heels, but the latter thereafter mounted steady pressure in search for goals.
On Tuesday, UP and Punjab play the third place classification match at 2 pm with the Odisha-Haryana final at 4pm.
WOMEN’S LINE-UP
In U-17 women’s action, Jharkhand and Chandigarh played out a 2-2 draw in Pool A after both had won their respective opening matches on Saturday.
Chandigarh led twice through Kavita (13th minute) and Barkha (45th) only to concede equalizer on both occasions, Jharkhand’s goal-getters being Ropni Kumari (38th) and Beauty Dung Dung (57th).
