Haryana clinched a 3-2 victory over Uttar Pradesh in the semifinals of the 14th Hockey India Senior Men's National Championship 2024, held at the Mayor Radhakrishnan Hockey Stadium on Friday. This win marks Haryana's third consecutive appearance in the tournament final.

As a two-time champion since Hockey India's 2011 reorganization, Haryana overcame a strong Uttar Pradesh team, which included current Indian players Lalit Upadhyay and Rajkumar Pal. Despite holding a 3-1 lead, Haryana faced a challenge when captain Pardeep Mor received a yellow card in the 50th minute, forcing the team to play with one fewer player for the remainder of the match.

Uttar Pradesh capitalized on the advantage, earning a penalty corner that Manish Yadav successfully converted in the 53rd minute, reducing Haryana's lead to 3-2. However, Haryana’s goalkeeper, Pawan Malik, delivered a stellar performance, making three crucial saves in the last seven minutes, including a critical stop against a close-range attempt from Lalit Upadhyay with just eight seconds remaining.

Pawan credited the team's preparation and unity, saying, “We train for these exact situations. Our team spirit was strong today, and we backed each other throughout. We hope to perform well against Odisha tomorrow.” Pawan is also set to join the India A squad for a tour in the Netherlands and Belgium shortly after the tournament.

Midfielder Rajinder Singh played a key role in Haryana's success, scoring a penalty corner right after halftime to extend the lead to 3-0. His efforts in both attack and defense were pivotal, as he disrupted Uttar Pradesh's play and launched counter-attacks. Rajinder, who recently debuted for the senior India team, has scored four goals in the tournament, showcasing the skills that led to his Rs. 23 lakh acquisition by the Hyderabad Toofans during the Hockey India League auction.

“We aimed to play aggressively from the start and maintain pressure on our opponents. We knew that focusing too much on defense could backfire,” Rajinder said, reflecting on his first senior nationals experience.

Haryana’s coach, Sandeep Sangwan, praised the team's determination and adaptability. “This performance demonstrated the character of our players. We missed a few chances to extend our lead, but that’s hockey—it’s what makes the game exciting to watch,” said Sangwan, who has been leading the team since 2011 and guided them to two previous championships.

The team's midfielders executed a disciplined zonal-marking strategy to neutralize Uttar Pradesh's attack, effectively disrupting their rhythm and limiting key player Rajkumar Pal’s impact. Haryana made the most of its opportunities, converting a crucial penalty corner in the match.

Looking ahead to the final, Haryana acknowledges the challenge posed by a well-prepared Odisha team, which includes several national camp players. “Odisha is a strong team, and we need to be at our best to win. It’s going to be a tough match, as it should be at this level,” added Sangwan.

Haryana will compete for its third title in four championship appearances on Saturday, while Odisha is eager to claim its first gold medal.

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