Sub-junior National Hockey C'ship: Rajasthan outplay Telangana on day 1

Hojai (Assam) [India], Jan 5 (ANI): Rajasthan notched up a big 9-0 win against Telangana in Pool A clash on the first day of the 8th Hockey India Sub Junior National Championship 2018 for men - B Division, on Friday, here.

It was three goals by Praveen Singh (23', 33', 57'), two goals each by Romit Pal (12' and 15'), skipper Sachin (44' and 65') and a goal each by Karan Singh Saini (16'), Manish Choudhary (34') that lifted the team to a strong opening match win.

In another Pool A encounter, Mumbai drew 4-4 with Madhya Pradesh.

Mumbai took a strong 3-0 lead with goals by Sandeep Singh (13'), Dharmendra Pal (23') and Noah D'Mellow (16) but Madhya Pradesh made a strong comeback after halftime to score back-to-back goals through Aditya Chhetry (43') and Sa Tyam Barde (51').

Akkit Goud of Mumbai took his team's lead to 4-2 in the 52nd minute but a double strike by Shubham Kahoria in the 62nd and 69th minute saw Madhya Pradesh split the match points with Mumbai.

Meanwhile, Bengal posted a stupendous 10-0 win against Kerala in Pool B.

Shovan Biswas opened the score board for Bengal with double goals in the 16th and 25th minute.

Goals by Lorik Pal (40'), Saif Khan (43'), and Sunil Rajbhar (48') consolidated their lead. As many as five goals were scored between 61st and 69th minute by them via Rabind Nath Thakur (61' and 65'), Manjeet Sigh Chauhan (63'), Sunil Rajbhar (66') and Raja Rajbhar (69') to win the match convincingly.

In another Pool B encounter, Hockey Him (HHM) defeated Bengaluru 4-1. Tofeeq Ahmed (56' and 63') scored twice while Neeraj Kumar Yadav (16') and Vipul Sainin (18') scored a goal each.

Skipper Umashankar was the lone goal scorer for Bengaluru.

In Pool C, Coorg drew with Assam 2-2.

The match was evenly played out with Assam opening the scoreboard through Rahul Verma (22') but conceded an equaliser in the 30th minute through Rakshith Kariyappa.

Assam took a 2-1 lead in the 39th minute via Mrinal Roy while Coorg's Kariyappa struck his second goal in the 69th minute.

In Pool D, Sports Authority of Gujara beat Jammu and Kashmir 3-0.

Viveksinh Rajput scored double goals in the 6th and 58th minute while Ajaykumar Baria scored a goal in the 50th minute.

In another closely fought pool D encounter, Himachal beat Uttarakhand 2-1.

Uttarakhand took an early 1-0 lead in the 30th minute through their captain Mitesh Singh's field goal, they couldn't convert any goals in the second half. Hockey Himachal scored through Rajan (50') and Harpal Singh (69') to win the match. (ANI)