After nine days and 40 matches, including 36 group contests, and a good majority of them one-sided, the Hockey India 13th Senior National men’s hockey championship has entered the last-four stage.
The inclusion of 31 players from the National core group in the Senior Nationals after a brief hiatus has been a shot in the arm for the sport. Playing against the likes of India captain Harmanpreet Singh, forwards Lalit Kumar Upadhyay and Abhishek, among others, would have done the young players a world of good.
The semifinals of the Nationals to be held here on Monday will witness Punjab taking on Karnataka, whereas Tamil Nadu will challenge the defending champion Haryana.
