by Cl Chris Ferreira
CHOTTAUDEPUR, OCT 24, 2016: Don Bosco High School and College in Chhotaudepur lifted top honours by beating Aravalli, 3-0 in the girl's Under-17 State Hockey Tournament that took place in 
Chhotaudepur on October 12.
Aravalli, time and again attempted to enter the Chhotaudepur D, but failed to convert. Their opponents seized the initiative and counter attacked with a vengeance. Sejal Rathwa scored a brace for Chhotaudepur, while Bhavna Rathwa sounded the board once to complete a comprehensive win in the final.
Twenty two teams from the different districts of Gujarat participated in the tourney, with Aravalli, Baroda city, Chhotaudepur and Navsari making the cut for the final four.
While talking about the pride brought to India by her daughters at the Olympics, the District Collector of Chhotaudepur, Vijay Kharadi, expressed his hope that the youth would someday do the country proud, "Girls from humble villages as these will exalt India," he said.
On the other and, in the boys Under-17 State Hockey championship played at Don Bosco School and College in collaboration with the District Sports Office of Chhotaudepur on October 11, Sports Authority of India (SAI) edged out Don Bosco High School Chhotaudepur, 8-7 via a sudden death shootout in the final.
Twenty eight teams from across the state - that included Valsad, Navsari, Baroda, Modasa, Chhotaudepur and SAI – participated in the tourney. Lalit Rathwa opened the scoring for Rathwi early. SAI struck back to even scores. A late strike from Jigar Mahesh Rathwa handed Don Bosco's the lead.
However, in the last five minutes of regulation time, Lalit Rathwa was suspended. SAI took advantage of the one-player less and netted the second goal to even scores 2-2. Even a penalty shootout failed to produce a winner as both team's remained level. SAI's players held their nerve in the sudden death shootout to claim the title.