The first of the season's Nehru Series, started at Shahbad -- a town that produced almost 25 international women hockey internationals in the decade gone by -- on 6th will witness a tense final on wenesday for two obvious reasons.

Firstly, after a long time the Gwalior outfit, mostly the product of the state run MP State Gwalior Girls Hockey Academy, is reaching a final. They would not like the opportunity go waster, and will try their most to win their maiden cup.

The Gwalior girls are in fact lucky to be in the finals as their semifinal rival Govt. Girls High School, Ranchi, led the match 3-1 in the first quarter, before yielding equlizers in the 41st and 59th minute. The ultimate Player of the Match Raina Yadav turned the tables at the stroke of hooter with a gem of a field goal. Otherwise, the Ranchi team was giving a great fight.

The local team, SGNP, was outright favourite in the other semis, where former player Pritam Rani Siwach's Tika Ram Girls Senior Secondary School, Sonepat was their rival. Both teams stood 1-1 at halftime, but once Narinder Saini let loose with two goals, there were no look back for the SGNP girls. They won the match 8-2.

It is worthwhile to note here the Sonepat School got a wild card entry in order to encourage the former player who devoted her time to develop this academy. Meanwhile, the easy semifinal match will bring tremendous pressure on the SGNP girls tomorrow to deliver. And in all probability, the team will be the hot favourite.

Final will be played at 15 hours