JOIN USIndian Railways defeated Uttar Pradesh 5-3 to emerge champions of the 5th Senior National Hockey Championship (A Division) here on Tuesday.
Amit Rohidas turned out to be the star performer for Railways, scoring three goals. Amit converted a penalty stroke in the ninth minute to give his side the lead and Talwinder Singh doubled the score in the 17th minute.
After Uttar Pradesh pulled one back through Sunil Yadav (25th), Amit added two more to the team’s tally in the second quarter to make it 4-1. Affan Yusuf netted the fifth goal in the 27th minute.
Uttar Pradesh produced a fightback in the final two quarters with Yadav (38th) and Amir Khan (39th) finding the mark.
But Railways maintained the momentum and clinched the championship.
In the third-fourth playoff, Air India defeated Gangpur, Odisha 5-3.
Veteran Sameer Dad dazzled, coming up with a brace (5th, 17th) to stand out in his side’s victory.
Results:
Final: Railways: 5 (Amit Rohidas 9th, 21st, 29th, Talwinder Singh 17th, Affan Yusuf 27th) vs Uttar Pradesh: 3 (Sunil Yadav 25th, 38th, Amir Khan 39th).
Third-fourth playoff: Air India: 5 (Sameer Dad 5th, 17th, Vikram Pillay 8th, Arman Qureshi 49th, Gaganpreet Singh 56th) vs Gangpur, Odisha: 3 (Roshan Minz 15th, Pratap Lakra 33rd, 58th).
Individual Awards:
Best goalkeeper: Arpit Choudhary (Jharkhand); Best defender: Amit Rohidas (Railways); Best mid-fielder: Jasjit Singh (Railways); Best forward: Lalit Upadhyay (Uttar Pradesh); Promising player of the championship: Vikramjit Singh (Punjab).