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It is raining... goals as SNBP All India Hockey Tournament enters knock-out phase
The first knock-out stage of the 4th SNBP All India Hockey Boys u-16 tournament will commence on Saturday, October 5 at Balewadi Sports Complex
The group stage of the 4th SNBP All India Hockey Boys u-16 tournament is done and dusted as eight group winners, including hosts SNBP Academy, are through to the first knock-out stage of the tournament, which will commence on Saturday.
SNBP Academy confirmed their presence in the last eight after thrashing OTHL XI, Delhi 11-1 in their final pool B match, at the Balewadi Sports Complex on Friday. Joining SNBP Academy in the quarter-finals will be MP Hockey Academy Bhopal, Jai Bharat Hockey Bhiwani Haryana, SAIL Hockey Academy, Aishbag Sports Center, Naval Tata Hockey Academy, SGPC Amritsar and Hockey Coorg.
In Pool A, MP Hockey Academy breezed past both their opponents and ended the group stage with a staggering 25 goals in two games, conceding just one in the process. Their convincing 8-1 victory over Regional Development Center, confirmed their passage to the quarter-finals. MP Hockey Academy will aim to extend their winning streak as they go head-to-head with Hockey Coorg in the first quarter-final on Saturday.
In Pool H, Hockey Coorg has managed to claw their way into the quarter-final. After the withdrawal of defending champions Krida Prabodhini, from Pune and a 2-2 draw against Mumbai School Sports Association, Hockey Coorg advanced to the last 8 based on the fact that they had scored more field goals compared to Mumbai School Sports Association. They will now have to turn their attention to MP Hockey Academy, who seem to be scoring for fun.
In Pool B, host team SNBP Academy edged past Cdr Nandi Singh Hockey Academy 2-1 in a cagey encounter. SNBP progressed to the next stage after humiliating OTHL XI Delhi 11-1 as Hritik Gupta and Akash Yadave bagged four goals each. The hosts will now face-off against SGPC Amritsar, who seems to be the most prolific side of the tournament.
In Pool G, SGPC Amritsar raced to the knock-outs after humiliating SNBP School 21-0. They have scored 35 goals so far. Bikramjit Singh bagged another hat-trick in the following game and helped his side thrash Hockey Nashik 14-0, as SGPC Amritsar advanced to the last 8 to face SNBP Academy.
In Pool C, due to the last minute withdrawal of Army Boys Sports Coy, Danapur Bihar, there was just one match played to see who advances to the knock-out phase. Jai Bharat Hockey Bhiwani, Haryana beat Raja Karn Academy Karnal 4-2 to grab the top-spot in Pool C and they will now face Naval Tata Hockey Academy.
In Pool F, crucial goals from Atish Dodrai and Abhishek Tigga helped Naval Tata Hockey Academy edge past Nagpur Hockey Academy 2-1. In the final game of the group phase, Naval Tata Hockey Academy beat Salute Hockey Academy by the same score-line to advance to the last 8 of the tournament, and will face Jai Bharat Hockey Bhiwani, Haryana.
In Pool D, yet again there was just a single match played due to the absence of Sports Authority of Gujarat. Hat-tricks from Mukesh Tete and Anmol Ekka helped SAIL Hockey Academy destroy Hockey Sindewahi 18-0. SAIL Hockey Academy will now ready themselves to go up against Aishbag Sports Center in the third quarter-final.
In Pool E, Aishbag Sports Center stormed into the knockout phase of the tournament after routing Belkulai CKAC Vidhyapith West Bengal 4-0 to set up a quarter-final clash with high-flying SAIL Hockey Academy.
Three teams withdraw last minute, leaving organisers disappointed
Three teams, including the defending champions Krida Prabodhini, withdrew from the 4th SNBP All India Hockey Boys U-16 Tournament. According to the organisers, Krida Prabodhini did not comply with the Hockey India rules regarding the size of the squad. The rule states that a team must have at least 16 players. Krida Prabodhini only had eight.
Apart from Krida Prabodhini, Sports Authority of Gujarat withdrew from the tournament because they had already registered to play a local tournament in Gujarat. The third team to withdraw their participation in the eleventh hour was Army Boys Sports Coy from Danapur, Bihar. The team did not specify the reason for their absence.
According to the organisers, all the teams had confirmed their participation in the tournament. The organisers have written to Hockey India regarding the situation which has impacted the tournament badly.
Firoz Shaikh, tournament convener said, “The withdrawal has impacted that tournament badly. This is the first time we are seeing teams shying off in this tournament. We have written to the apex body - Hockey India regarding the teams’ conduct.”
Fixtures – Quarter-finals:
The quarter-finals will take place on Saturday, October 5 at Balewadi Sports Complex
QF1: MP Hockey Academy v Hockey Coorg
QF2: SAIL Hockey Academy v Aishbag Sports Center
QF3: SNBP Academy v SGPC Amritsar
QF4: Jai Bharat Hockey Bhiwani Haryana v Naval Tata Hockey Academy
