U.P./Goa boys cruise on By Our Sports Reporter
BANGALORE Nov. 6. Uttar Pradesh, despite four of its top players debarred from participation in the ongoing 12th Mini National volleyball championship at the Sree Kanteerava Stadium outdoor courts, does not seem to have lost any of its fire-power. The reigning champion proved far too hot for a depleted Haryana to handle and won on a cruise at 25-10, 25-18, 25-23 in just 40 minutes to top Group A with an all win record.
U.P., which blanked Delhi in morning, with the relatively small made and genuinely under-12 Delhi boys `crying' for mercy, was ruthless against Haryana late in the evening.
The tall Arvind Singh prowled at the net and `killed' any loose ball with aplomb, while the left handed Mohammed Ahmed and Amrish Yadav too attacked with tigerish zeal. Having proved its mettle against Delhi and Jharkhand, Haryana boys led by Sanjai Kumar and Satyavir were expected to pose a few challenges for U.P. But it was not to be as the Haryana defence crumbled against a relentless onslaught.
Andhra Pradesh girls too caved in under pressure against host Karnataka in a Group D encounter in straight games. Probably a hard fought five-set win over Maharashtra in the morning did take its toll on the A.P. girls as they struggled against an inconsistent host. It was the largesse of the Karnataka girls that enabled AP to garner points.
Karnataka's Krithika Nath and Baby M.J time and again looked laden footed and failed to find their moorings. This was Karnataka's second straight win and the clash against West Bengal on the morrow will determine the group toppers.
West Bengal boys showed a welcome flexibility in play and outspiked past the challenge from Chhattisgarh in straight sets. Debashish manna was in his elements while Surajit Das and Arijit Dutta provided able support.
Late on Wednesday night, Goa scored a straight sets win over Rajasthan in a Group C clash. Goa won 25-15, 25-21, 25-20 in just 46 minutes for a remarkable result.
The results:
Boys:
Group A: Jharkhand bt Delhi 25-18, 25-20, 25-16; Haryana bt Delhi 24-26, 25-10, 25-6, 25-7; U.P. bt Delhi 25-10, 25-13, 25-13; Haryana bt Jharkhand 25-15, 25-15, 25-10; U.P. bt Haryana 25-10, 25-18, 25-23.
Group B: A.P. bt Maharashtra 27-25, 25-21, 25-27, 25-15; Manipur bt Maharashtra 25-27, 25-23, 25-15, 25-17.
Group C: Goa bt Rajasthan 25-15, 25-21, 25-20; M.P. bt Goa 25-20, 25-12, 25-13.
Group D: Karnataka bt J&K 25-13, 25-10, 25-15; West Bengal bt Gujarat 25-8, 25-11, 25-9; West Bengal bt Chhattisgarh 25-19, 25-20, 25-13; J&K bt Gujarat 25-10, 25-11, 25-10.
Girls:
Group B: Kerala bt Jharkhand 25-3, 25-4, 25-11; West Bengal bt Jharkhand 25-7, 25-6, 25-10.
Group C: TN bt Delhi 25-11, 25-5, 25-9; UP bt Delhi 25-22, 25-22, 25-18.
Group D: A.P. bt Rajasthan 25-22, 17-25, 25-11, 17-25, 15-11; Karnataka bt A.P. 25-13, 25-12, 25-17.
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