Women’s Hockey National Championship 2023: Uttar Pradesh beat Andhra Pradesh in close encounter

Punjab and Tamil Nadu also emerged victorious on the day.

Action continued in the 13th Hockey India Senior Women National Championship 2023 Kakinada, Andhra Pradesh with Hockey Punjab, Uttar Pradesh Hockey and Hockey Unit of Tamil Nadu picking up three points after victories in their respective games.    

Hockey Punjab defeated Hockey Himachal by a score of 2-0 in their Pool F encounter. Shalu Mann (17’, 58’) led her team to victory with her two goals while Sarabdeep Kaur earned the Player of the Match Award for running the show in this tightly contested affair.  

The second match in Pool E was a rollercoaster ride with Uttar Pradesh Hockey winning against Hockey Andhra Pradesh by a margin of 3-2. Uttar Pradesh Hockey took the through goals from Rakhi Rathor (16’) and Vartika Rawat (33’,59’) but Lolita Mary (39’) and Garlanka Varahalamma (47’) levelled the playing field for Hockey Andhra Pradesh with their goals. Hockey Andhra Pradesh conceded a penalty stroke at the end of the game, converted by Uttar Pradesh Hockey’s Vartika to snatch the points back from Hockey Andhra Pradesh.

Player of the Match Vinamrata Yadav was the star of the show, covering every corner of the pitch and sprinkling her magic all over. “ This was such a close fought win but there was never any doubt in the mind of the players, we knew we had to keep working as a team and not panic. This belief is what kept us going and got us the victory in the end. This Player of the Match Award is for the team, not just for me, it will always remind us of this hard-fought game.”  

Hockey Unit of Tamil Nadu won their match against Le Puducherry Hockey in the last match of the day from Pool H by a 3-0 scoreline. The goalscorers for Hockey Unit of Tamil Nadu were Priyanga S (24’), Janani (49’) and Player of the Match S Soniya (11’).  

Hockey Maharashtra will play Hockey Unit of Tamil Nadu to kick off action in Pool H at 0700 and Le Puducherry Hockey will take on Hockey Andaman & Nicobar at 0845 and Pool G match between Hockey Madhya Pradesh and Delhi Hockey will start at 1030 while Telangana Hockey and Hockey Manipur will play the last game of the day at 1545.