PANAJI
Goa’s campaign at the 58th Senior National Kho-Kho Championship got off to a difficult start on the opening day, as the women’s team suffered a heavy defeat at the hands of a formidable Punjab side at the Railway Ground, Kazipet in Telangana.
Punjab outplayed Goa comprehensively, winning by one innings and 33 points (37-4) in a one-sided encounter that underlined the gulf in experience and execution between the two teams. Goa struggled to find momentum as Punjab controlled proceedings from the outset with sharp attacks and disciplined defence. Amisha was the lone notable performer for Goa, registering one minute of defence, but she found little support as Punjab dictated terms throughout the match.
Punjab’s dominance was led by Bandhab Kaur (6 points), Yashdeep (2.30 minutes defence, 4 points) and Snehpreet (3.15 minutes defence, 2 points), whose combined effort ensured that Goa never settled into the contest.
Meanwhile, traditional powerhouses asserted their supremacy in the championship. Maharashtra continued its march in both sections, with the men crushing Manipur by one innings and 15 points (31-16) and the women overwhelming Chhattisgarh by one innings and 23 points (35-12). Vidarbha also advanced confidently in the men’s category, defeating Uttarakhand by one innings and nine points (25-16).
The opening day saw several lopsided results across categories, with Delhi, Chhattisgarh, Pondicherry, Uttar Pradesh and Gujarat registering convincing wins in the men’s section, while Haryana dominated Bihar in the women’s competition.
