Pune’s Young Hockey Talent Dazzles with Back-to-Back Title Wins
Pune, 15th March 2025: Pune bagged a grand double winning the Sub Junior and Junior Category of the Asmita Hockey State League, 2025 at the Major Dhyachand Hockey Stadium, Nehrunagar-Pimpri.
In the finals of both – Sub Junior and Junior Categories – Pune scored identical 9-0 wins over Nagpur and Mumbai City respectively.
In the Sub Junior final, Pune downed Nagpur 9-0 and was aided by a six-goal super effort by Avni Rawat (27′, 35′, 39′, 49′, 53′, 58′ – p.c). The others to get onto the scoreline were Arpita Konjare (6′, 48′ – p.c) and Caelyn Nesamani (26′) to complete the scoreline.
Later, in the Junior Category Pune got past Mumbai City 9-0 with three-goal efforts by Tanushree Kadu (6′ – p. c, 42′ – p c, 57′), Sanika Mane (11′ – p.c, 22′, 27′- p. c) a double strike by Sanjana Khetawat (15′ – p.c, 53′ – p.c) and a goal by Diksha Shinde 34′) made up the one-side scoreline.
In the III-Place play off Satara downed Kolhapur 2-1. For Satara, Vedika Waghmore (19′) and Shruti Bhosale (58′) netted, while Kolhapur pulled one back via Parnita Chavan (33′).
The winning teams of both categories bagged cash awards each which included two lakhs, one lakh sixty thousand and one lakh twenty thousand for their efforts. In the Sub Junior Category. Pune topped Mumbai City finished second and Thane took third place. In the Junior category Pune were crowned champions, Nagpur took runners up position and Thane claimed third place.
The prizes were given away by Pandurang Chate (I.R.S), Regional Director (VC), Sports Authority of India; in the presence of Pankaj Patil, Deputy Commissioner Sports, PCMC, Dhananjay Mahadik, Deputy Commissioner, State GST. Vice President Hockey Maharashtra; Clarence Lobo, Dronacharya Awardee, Vikram Pillay, Ajit Lakra, Olympians, Ajinkya Karpe, Assistant Director, Sports Authority Of India later Manoj Bhore, Vice President, Hockey Maharashtra proposed a vote of thanks.
RESULTS
SUB JUNIOR
Final: Pune: 9 (Arpita Konjare 6′, 48′ – p.c; Caelyn Nesamani 26′; Avni Rawat 27′, 35′, 39′, 49′, 53′, 58′ – p.c) bt Nagpur: 0. HT: 3-0
III-Place: Thane bt Yavatmal.
JUNIOR
Final: Pune: 9 (Tanushree Kadu 6′ – p. c, 42′ – p c, 57′; Sanika Mane 11′ – p.c, 22′, 27 – p. c’; Sanjana Khetawat 15′ – p.c, 53′ – p.c; Diksha Shinde 34′) bt Mumbai City: 0. HT: 5-0
III-Place: Satara: 2 (Vedika Waghmore 19′; Shruti Bhosale 58′) bt Kolhapur: 1 (Parnita Chavan 33′). HT: 1-0
