Chandigarh, Jammu & Kashmir, Uttar Pradesh and Himachal Pradesh secure spots in men's roller hockey semifinals

Chandigarh, Jammu & Kashmir, Uttar Pradesh and Himachal Pradesh men's roller hockey teams showcased their prowess, securing coveted spots in the semifinals of the 61st National Skating Championship held in Chandigarh

In an electrifying display of skill and dominance, Chandigarh delivered an outstanding performance, blanking Kerala with an emphatic 14-1 victory.

From the onset, Chandigarh asserted their control, surging to a commanding 5-0 lead in the first half. The team sustained their dominance throughout the match, leaving little opportunity for Kerala to maneuver, ultimately sealing the match with a resounding scoreline.

Jujhar Singh spearheaded Chandigarh's triumph with a remarkable four-goal spectacle, while Gurshan Singh Aujhla and Gaurav Raheja added three goals each to the tally. Gurnoor Singh (2), Kartik Sharma (1), and Angadbir Singh (1) were the other contributors with goal to Chandigarh's resounding win. On the opposing side, Tibin Baby remained the solitary scorer for the Kerala team.

In a second quarter-final, Jammu & Kashmir edged past Punjab in a thrilling encounter, securing a 5-3 victory. The first half witnessed an even 1-1 deadlock between the sides. However, Jammu & Kashmir's second-half surge, marked by two rapid goals, shifted the momentum decisively in their favor (3-1). Subsequently, two more goals bolstered their lead to 5-1 before Punjab rallied with two goals, narrowing the final scoreline to 3-5.

Jugraaj Singh's phenomenal four-goal spree and Darpan Gargotra's singular contribution propelled Jammu & Kashmir's triumph, while Gurjot Singh Baidwan netted twice for Punjab, supported by Shubhpreet Singh Nagra's goal.

In third semifinal, Uttar Pradesh edged out Haryana in a tough contest 2-1.

Tarukh Mohsin scored both the goals for UP, while Sohil Garg was the lone scorer for Haryana.

In the last quarters, Himachal Pradesh defeated Tamil Nadu 5-1.

Prabhav Valecha scored three goals, while Chandan Chopra & Kunal scored a goal each for Himachal.

NR Harshath was the lone scorer for Tamil Nadu

Results: Roller Hockey

Senior Boys (quarter-finals): Chandigarh bt Kerala 14-1; Jammu & Kashmir bt Punjab 5-3; Uttar Pradesh bt Haryana 2-1; Himachal Pradesh bt Tamil Nadu.