Hockey India Senior Men National Championship 2021: Hockey Punjab beat UP via shootout to lift title

The
first
half
ended
goalless
in
a
closely
contested
final
between
the
two
heavyweights.
The
deadlock
continued
in
the
second
half
as
well,
with
neither
of
the
teams
coming
close
to
scoring
in
the
regulation
time.
Hockey
Punjab
goalkeeper
Kamalbir
Singh
emerged
as
the
hero
of
the
match,
making
as
many
as
four
saves
in
the
shootout
to
help
his
team
clinch
the
title.

Speaking
about
their
victory,
Hockey
Punjab
Coach
Balwinder
Singh
said,
“As
I
had
mentioned
earlier,
are
as
many
as
10
players
were
playing
the
Nationals
for
the
first
time,
so
this
win
shows
how
talented
this
group
is.
We
expected
this
kind
of
challenge
in
the
final,
our
boys
showed
great
character
today.
The
team
was
led
by
Rupinder
Pal
Singh,
hence
we
were
confident
in
defence.
Our
goalkeeper
Kamalbir
Singh
stood
tall
and
made
excellent
saves
in
the
shootout.
So,
it
was
a
great
game
and
really
happy
to
be
on
the
winning
side.”

He
further
added,”
I
had
taken
a
risk
of
selecting
a
young
side,
and
I
think
I
have
got
my
reward.
Winning
a
national
championship
is
a
great
achievement
for
a
coach,
and
of
course
for
players
as
well.
It
will
be
a
stepping
stone
for
these
young
players
to
achieve
their
dream
of
playing
for
the
country.”

Meanwhile,
Hockey
Karnataka
defeated
Hockey
Maharashtra
5-2
to
clinch
3rd
place
in
the
tournament.
Hockey
Karnataka
established
an
early
two-goal
cushion,
courtesy
of
goals
from
Kumar
Yathish
B
(3′)
and
Captain
Mohd.
Raheel
(5′).
Not
giving
up
easily,
Hockey
Maharastra
went
on
to
equalise
through
two
goals
from
their
Captain
Taleb
Shah
in
the
24th
and
33rd
minute
respectively.
But,
that
wasn’t
enough
as
goals
from
Pavan
Madivalar
(37′)
and
Chiranth
Somanna
N.D
(45′)
put
Hockey
Karnataka
in
the
driver’s
seat
at
the
end
of
the
third
quarter.
Likhith
Bm’s
goal
in
the
52nd
minute
ensured
Hockey
Karnataka
a
clinical
5-2
in
the
Bronze
Medal
match.

Source:
HI
Release