Karnataka start with a big win

The strategy paid rich dividends from early in the match with Laxman beginning the scoring after his side earned a penalty corner in the third minute.

Although the Rajasthan defenders managed to clear away the initial attack off the short-corner, Shanmugam, who was waiting near the 25-yard-line to look out for such opportunities, passed the ball back into the rival penalty area, where Laxman did not hesitate to find the second angle.

The goal was an example for the innovation the hosts would bring in their attacks, for, every goal they scored later was different from the previous one. Laxman added one more to his tally in the 10th minute off a penalty corner again. M A Bopanna, who was earmarked to take the hit, deftly relayed the ball to Laxman to catch the Rajasthan defence off-guard. Laxman made full use of the innovation to sound the board.

In between, Cyprian Aind had shown alacrity to deflect a Samson hit at the goal in the 8th minute.

The next goal was a straight forward one as skipper Olympian CS Poonacha sounded the board in a direct hit. Poonacha appeared again on the scorers8217; list when his attempt entered the goal off a defender8217;s stick in the 61st minute off the side8217;s 13th penalty corner.

On resumption with the score 4-0 in the hosts8217; favour, Karnataka coaches began to use their bench strength. K Shriram replaced Roshan in the mid-field and Amar Aiyamma substituted KT Mohan.

There was also the yellow card flashed at Ronald Kiran eleven minutes into the second session of play, which upset the hosts8217; rhythm and forced them to play it safe for the period they were reduced to ten men.

But when KT Mohan and Roshan came back into play, the scoring abilities too returned.

Amar Aiyamma began this second spell of goal-scoring in the 50th minute hitting the roof of the net after Poonacha8217;s shot off the 11th penalty corner rebounded off Rajasthan goal-keeper8217;s pads.

Amar was the one to complete tally six minutes from close capitalising on a goal-mouth melee.

KT Mohan celebrated his return to play scoring off Shanmugam8217;s crisp cross, but for Roshan, the return was not all that good as he failed to convert a penalty stroke. The stroke was awarded when Ronald8217;s hit at the goal off the 14th penalty corner struck Arun Pareek8217;s legs.

In the final account, Karnataka coaches were a happy, but not a satisfied lot as Ramesh Parameswaran put it, 8220;We could have scored atleast six more goals.8221;

Earlier, using their rivals8217; weaknesses to the maximum, Chandigarh scored four goals in the first half and went on to add as many in the second to emerge victorious.

Surjit Singh was the chief scorer for the winners with three, while J Kujur and Parveen pumped in a brace each. Ajit Singh was the other scorer for Chandigarh.TODAY8217;S RESULTS

Pool D: Karnataka bt Rajasthan 8-0

Pool E: Tamil Nadu bt Jamp;K 11-0; Maharashtra bt Madhya Bharat 1-0

Pool F: Chandigarh bt HP 8-0

Pool G: Delhi bt Gujarat 1-0