A face-off between experienced drag-flicker Rupinderpal Singh and seasoned goalkeeper Akash Chikte will be the highlight when traditional heavyweights Hockey Punjab take on this event's surprise package Hockey Maharashtra in an exciting semi-final in the 11th Hockey India Senior Men National Championship at the Major Dhyanchand Hockey Stadium, Nehrunagar-Pimpri, on Monday.
Hosts Hockey Maharashtra are bullish after exceeding all expectations to trhe reach the semi-finals and the match promises to be exciting. The encounter,scheduled under lights on Monday, has a lot to look forward to apart from the fact that Maharashtra is on a never-before journey.
Hockey Punjab will be figuring in their fifth semi-final appearance over the past 10 years, which includes being two-time champions and three-time runners-up.
For Punjab, the encounter will be all about putting their experience together and a winning routine. Maharashtra, unlike, Punjab will want to prove that they can match up against seasoned teams as well.
On-pitch the battle to watch for will be between 2020 Tokyo Olympics bronze medalist Rupinderpal and Maharashtra goalkeeper and former India player Akash Chikte.
Armed with vast experience Rupinder with two strikes in the last-eight encounter against Hockey Chandigarh proved how he can be a game-changer. In a similar capacity are Akash's attributes standing up and blocking the Tamil Nadu attempts and helping Maharashtra get past the quarter-finals.
Punjab have gone about their job clinically. They have not scored as many goals as Maharashtra with Lovepreet Jainth (5 Goals) and Rupinder Pal Singh (4 Goals) being their main scorers.
Interestingly, Maharashtra's penalty corner expert Pratap Shinde has scored more goals (10 goals off PCs) than Rupinder.
Maharashtra, however, have run themselves into a purple patch with skipper Taleb Shah still searching for his real touch. However, the last-gasp equaliser against Tamil Nadu by Taleb restored his scoring ability scoring their 12th goal.
Both Punjab and Maharashtra have not clashed before making the game an open bet.
In the other semi-final, Hockey Karnataka take on Uttar Pradesh Hockey in a South-North encounter of varied styles.
BJP protests CPI(M), Congress’ ‘misleading’ campaign against Govt
The ruling BJP in Tripura launched a state-wide protest against the opposition CPI(M) and the Congress party over ‘misleading’ the people of the state by hatching conspiracy against the government.
Four Bangladeshi nationals held from Agartala railway station while boarding train to Chennai
In yet another major crackdown on illegal infiltration, the police of GRP and Railway Protection Force on Saturday detained at least 4 Bangladeshi nationals and another Indian tout from Agartala railway station.
One held with gold biscuits worth Rs 36 lakh
In the fight against the menace of trans-border smuggling in the state of Tripura, BSF on May 18, arrested one smuggler and seized 04 gold biscuits worth Rs 36.6 lakhs.
Minor girl from Tripura rescued from Rajasthan
More than a year after a minor girl was taken away from her village in Tripura's Khowai district on the pretext of a job, she was rescued from Rajasthan by a state police team and one person arrested in this connection, an official said on Friday.
Amid opposition by most parties, Tripura govt to implement CAA
The BJP government in Tripura is preparing to implement the Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA), Chief Minister Manik Saha announced here on Friday amid opposition from other political parties which fear the new law will trigger communal tensions in the state.
DMs in Tripura asked to take precautionary measures to control malaria
Focusing on taking a strategic plan to prevent malaria in the state of Tripura in view of the ensuing monsoon season, the state health secretary Kiren Gitte on Friday chaired a crucial meeting with District Magistrates of all the eight districts of the state.
Concerned over alleged livelihood crisis in Tripura’s remote villages, CPI(M) writes to Chief Secretary
The CPI(M) state secretary and also the Leader of Opposition Jitendra Chaudhury on Friday alleged of livelihood crisis in the state’s remote villages and wrote to the Chief Secretary J K Sinha seeking his intervention to solve the crisis and ease livelihood for the poor villagers.
Steps will be taken for up-gradation of Vande Tripura educational channel: CM
Chief Minister Prof. Dr. Manik Saha announced on Friday that initiatives will be taken to upgrade the technology of Vande Tripura, the dedicated educational channel aimed at providing better education to students.