Hockey India 5s: Maharashtra go down 5-6 to Karnataka

Maharashtra's Yuvraj Walmiki scores a goal against Karnataka in the first Hockey India 5-a-side Senior Nationals at Pune yesterday

Maharashtra's Yuvraj Walmiki scores a goal against Karnataka in the first Hockey India 5-a-side Senior Nationals at Pune yesterday. Pic/Pradeep Dhivar

Pune: The Maharashtra team got a rude awakening in their opening match of the first Hockey India 5-a-side Senior National Championships at the Shiv Chhatrapati Sports Complex, Balewadi here yesterday when they went down 5-6 to a spirited Karnataka. But it's a lesson learnt, says striker Yuvraj Walmiki, who scored four times for the hosts, as he gave the concept the thumbs up.

"It's a great concept and the crowd seems to have liked it. We didn't win today but since all eight teams will make the quarter-finals, we will surely fight back in our remaining matches," Walmiki told mid-day here yesterday. Vikram Yadav got the fifth goal for Maharashtra, while Karnataka got their goals through a Nithin Thimmaiah brace and one goal each from Rathan Mathana, Pradhan Somanna, GR Shreyas and GN Pruthviraj.

International umpire Javed Shaikh, the man in charge of the umpires here, said the format is tricky for his men, but excellent to revive the dwindling spectator turn-out for the national game.

"This is like T20 cricket. It's short, quick and exciting (each match is of 30 mins with three 10-minite periods). The umpires have to be on their toes throughout given the pace of the proceedings, but the skill on display from the players is what makes this format trick. Some of the exquisite dribbles from the players are just like the big sixes hit in T20 cricket," said Shaikh.