Women's hockey Nationals: Clash of the equals as SAI meet MPHA, Haryana face Maharashtra in semis

KOLLAM: There is hardly anything to differentiate between Ranchi's Sports Authority of India and the Madhya Pradesh Hockey Academy from Gwalior in the first semifinal of the 10th Hockey India Senior Women’s National Championship, which will be played here at the New Hockey Stadium on Saturday.
Similar pattern follows in the second semifinal between Rio Olympian Poonam Rani-led Haryana and Maharashtra.
For MPHA, coached by Parminder Singh for the past 15 years, this is the seventh appearance but for SK Mohanti-trained SAI, who were promoted from B division, it’s the first last-four appearance in their in A-division debut.
In the quarterfinals, SAI ousted last year’s finalists Madhya Pradesh in a shootout and would like to continue their form against MPHA who took out Punjab by solitary goal.
“My girls are well prepared, mentally too. This is their first semifinal, so they are eager to leave a mark. On paper, both sides are equal. It will be well-fought match,” Mohanti told TOI.
MPHA has churned out several internationals and Olympians over the past 16 years since their inception 16 years ago and is considered the nursery for women hockey players.
Poonam will be a live-wire for Haryana. She scored 35 goals in 189 internationals spanning a career of past 10 years, including one Olympics. Now the 28-year-old is knocking on the selection doors ever since she had been omitted after the 2016 Rio Games.
However, Maharashtra will be emboldened by the form of Rutuja Pisala, the top scorer in this tournament with eight goals so far.
"At this stage nobody is safe. Our girls will give their best," said Maharashtra coach, Ibemhal Sanggal.