CHANDIGARH, Feb 17: Punjab, Maharashtra and Andhra Pradesh notched up victories, while Chandigarh were held by Orissa in their respective pool preliminary games of the Sub-Junior (under-16) National Football League Championship, being played at different venues in New Delhi yesterday.At the Ambedkar Stadium, Maharastra downed Haryana 4-0 in a one-sided game, and Tamil Nadu were held to a goalless draw by Tripura at the same venue later. At Thyagraj Nagar Sports Complex Punjab trounced Daman and Diu 11-0 while Orissa and Chandigarh played a goalless draw. At Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, Andhra Pradesh overcame Goa 2-0 while Karnataka got a walkover as the team from Andaman and Nicobar Islands failed to turn up for their game.Maharashtra, playing a fast game, failed to find the target very early as they saw quite a few chances go abegging. F. Ali Hyderali and SS Hassan Rizvi scored a brace each. It was F. Ali Hyderali who struck first to open the account even as SS Hassan Rizvi consolidated before the teams were for a break. On return the two completed the task by scoring one each again to leave Haryana dazed.It was a mis-match between Punjab and Daman & Diu. Punjab, beginning at a blistering pace, ran through their opponents defence with shots coming from all directions. The clueless Daman & Diu defence was packed with more men but it, in no way, stopped the Punjab forwards from surging ahead.Three minutes into the game Sarabjit Singh put Punjab ahead while Vijay Kumar added the second by the 10th minute. Manjinder Singh made it 3-0 by the 25th minute while Sarabjit struck twice in quick succession (31st and 40th) to leave Daman and Diu lick their wounds during the break.Nothing changed on resumption as Manpreet and Sarabjit Sharma hit the target twice each for the 9-0 lead by the 59th minute. Vijay Kumar and Nikhil Kranik completed the tally as the latter struck a minute before close.Andhra Pradesh and Goa played a waiting game with very little worth while moves coming from either side. However, Andhra Pradesh made their intentions clear just 20 minutes into the game when Arvind's shot went through the Frank Xavier's hands even as Goan goalkeeper prepared to grab the ball.After changing ends, Andhra failed to attack much despite a lot of gaps in Goan defence. However, just before close Arvind came to Andhra's rescue once again with a neat placing.Nonita-Shruti tie for titleFive-time national champion Nonita Lall Qureshi and Shruti Khanna will fight it out for the title in the final of the 82nd All India Amateur Golf Championship tomorrow at the Delhi Golf Club (DGC) course.In a very keenly contested and absorbing semifinal, experienced Nonita prevailed upon Vandana Agarwal on the 18th hole, while Shruti was forced into play-off by Anjali Chopra before winning on the 20th.The Nonita-Vandana match was evenly balanced initially. Despite robust hitting, Vandana bogeyed the 7th and lost the hole. Undismayed, Vandana won the 10th and the 11th to forge one-up.The Anjali-Shruti match was between two players of dissimilar style and temperament.Despite her usually good swing deserting her, Anjali went into lead on the 3rd.
