Jharkhand dethroned defending champion Haryana with a 4-3 shootout win in the final of the 15th Hockey India Senior Women National Championship 2025 in Panchkula on Wednesday.
Pramodni Lakra (44’) scored a goal for the champions while Captain Rani Rampal (42’) scored netted for Haryana as the two teams were locked at 1-1 at the end of four quarters.
It was a tightly contested first half as both sides hardly made any mistakes at the back. Haryana dominated possession in the opening minutes however, Jharkhand too had its moments and won a penalty corner which it couldn’t convert. Both teams squandered a penalty corner each as the game remained goalless at half-time.
In the 42nd minute, Haryana won a penalty corner which it converted thanks to a brilliant strike by Rani through a sea of defenders. Jharkhand promptly replied two minutes later with a field goal. Haryana lapsed in defence, allowing Promodni to sneak a shot past the keeper.
Both sides played came out firing in the final quarter. In the 51st minute, Rani received the ball inside the circle and was inches away from scoring a winner.
In the shootout, Rajni Kerketta, Nirali Kujur, Binima Dhan and Captain Alebla Rani Toppo converted their attempts. Pinki, Annu and Manisha scored in the shootout for Haryana but the Jharkhand goalkeeper Anjali Bhinjia made two crucial saves to seal the win.
In the third-place match, Mizoram defeated Maharashtra 2-1 to claim the bronze medal. Devika Sen (6’) scored the first goal for Mizoram before Maharashtra equalised courtesy of Ashwini Kolekar. In the 59th minute, Manju Chorsiya found a field goal to get Mizoram a medal.
