What Happened on Day 1 of the Jr. Men's Hockey Nationals?

Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- Punjab, Kerala, Chhattisgarh, and Hockey Raj excelled in Division 'C'.
- Hockey Arunachal, Hockey Bengal, and Delhi showcased their prowess in Division 'B'.
- Notable performances included Kerala Hockey netting multiple goals.
- Close matches, like the draw between Puducherry Hockey and Telangana Hockey.
- Overall, a thrilling start to the championship.
Jalandhar, Aug 12 (NationPress) In the opening day of the 15th Hockey India Junior Men's National Championship, Punjab, Kerala Hockey, Chhattisgarh Hockey, and Hockey Raj emerged victorious in Division 'C'. Meanwhile, Hockey Arunachal, Hockey Bengal, and Delhi claimed wins in Division 'B', with four matches from Division 'C' and three from Division 'B' taking place on Tuesday.
Notably, Kerala Hockey's players showcased their skills as Abhishek Yadav (29', 45') and Shalik K S (23'), along with teammates Abhinandh P S (30') and Adity Kumar (52'), contributed to an impressive hat-trick, leading their team to victory. The only goal for Tripura Hockey was netted by captain Kalai Khagendra (46').
In another thrilling encounter, Puducherry Hockey and Telangana Hockey played to a 1-1 draw in their Pool A matchup, with Manoj Aggu (10') scoring first for Telangana, followed by an equalizer from Anbupathi (28').
In Pool B of Division 'C', Chhattisgarh Hockey dominated Goans Hockey with a decisive 5-1 win. Captain Mohit Nayak (20', 60') netted a brace, complemented by goals from Om Kumar Yadav (17'), Sumit Minj (25'), and Ritik Yadav (42'). Tushar Sharma (56') scored the sole goal for Goans Hockey.
The final match in Division 'C' saw Hockey Raj triumph over Hockey Gujarat with a score of 4-3, featuring a late brace from Gurdayal Singh (58', 59'). Raza Mohammad Ubaid (9') and Anshul (52') also contributed to the victory, while Prathambhai Patel (15', 19') and Rutvikbhai Solanki (44') scored for Hockey Gujarat.
In Division 'B', Hockey Arunachal faced Hockey Himachal and secured a 3-1 win, with goals from Abhi Rajbhar (42', 52') and captain Amarjeet Singh (40'), while Shivank (37') found the net for Hockey Himachal.
Hockey Bengal clinched a strong 6-3 victory over Hockey Association of Bihar, with Karan Shaw (20', 35', 36', 58') scoring four goals and captain Prince Gabriyal Dhan (6', 19') adding two more. Goals for the Hockey Association of Bihar were scored by Ankit Kumar (38'), Lamu Shanu (48'), and Nandlal Shah (54').
Lastly, Delhi showcased a powerful performance with a staggering 10-2 win over Assam Hockey. Goals came from Bhanu (9', 13', 38'), Mohd Aamir Choudhary (15', 47'), Vivek Vats (21'), Rohit (24'), captain Naitik Rana (34'), Kunal Singh Chhikara (52'), and Anil Kumar (59'), while Ritik Patir (22', 55') scored for Assam Hockey.