Defending Champions Punjab set up a clash against Odisha in the final of the 3rd Hockey India Junior Men National Championship 2013 after getting the better of Madhya Pradesh Hockey Academy 6-2 here today.
While in the other semi-final match, Odisha defeated Hockey Maharashtra 2-1 in a hard fought battle.
Parvinder Singh and Gaganpreet Singh scored twice for Punjab in the first semi-final.
Punjab got off to a good start, scoring an early goal in the third minute of the game. However, MPHA's Manish Gurung scored an equaliser in the 12th minute by converting a penalty corner.
Punjab once again netted the ball in the 21st minute with a field goal from Parvinder Singh but three minutes later the Arjun Sharma levelled the scores to make it 2-2.
But Punjab dominated the proceedings in the second half and didn't allow their opponents any scoring chance. They scored four goals through Parvinder (61st min), Gaganpreet Singh (43rd & 45th min) and Varun (49th min).
In the match between Orissa and Hockey Maharashtra, after a goalless first half, Joseph Toppo scored the first goal for Odisha in the 41st minute, while Sunil Ekka added another one to the kitty through a field goal in the 55th minute.
Hockey Maharashtra reduced the margin in the 60th minute through Vinit Kamble.
