BHOPAL: Former champions Mumbai and four-time runners-up Tamil Nadu are strong contenders for a berth in the championship round but face stiff challenges against formidable opponents in the semi-finals that will be held on Friday, in the 63rd Rangaswamy Cup Senior National Hockey Championship at the floodlit Aishbagh Astroturf Stadium, Bhopal.

> While Mumbai take on Chandigarh in the first semi-final, Tamil Nadu will face Haryana in the second semi-final.

All four teams have been rewarded with a berth in the last four for displaying entertaining hockey that made them a class apart. While Chandigarh and Haryana, who have never reached the finals, have contingents of young talent, Mumbai and Tamil Nadu have a blend of youth and experience which has combined to make a significant impact.

Mumbai, who last won the championship in 1989, used their league ties effectively to warm up for the big occasion and cruised through without much ado, easing past Chhatisgarh and Manipur and only surviving a scare against Bhopal in between.

After crossing the first hurdle, Mumbai sent out a warning to the rest when they played to potential against a robust Punjab in a highly entertaining quarter-final. They utilised the experience of captain Conroy Remedios and defender Gursev Singh and were pleasantly surprised with the brilliant effort of the tireless Vikram Yadav in the midfield. And, with a formidable line-up of strikers like Jayesh Jadhav, Amit Gowda, Alden D’Souza and the skillful Laxman Rao they subdued Punjab.

With Punjab, who won the title on 15 occasions, the last way back in 1983, coming up with a strong second half challenge, the win for Mumbai was no joy ride. But the margin of victory in the end reflected the consistency and depth in the team that should give them hope.

Chandigarh had the toughest test against hosts Madhya Pradesh State Hockey Academy (MPSHA) in the quarter-finals, in the most exciting match of the tournament so far.

In a match that could have gone either way, Chandigarh escaped to victory against a dynamic young side that also deserved a place in the last four. While the forward line and midfield are doing well, Chandigarh’s defence will have to be ever alert after slipping against MPSHA in the dying minutes. But Chandigarh surged into the lead on two occasions in that tie, which reflected they were no pushovers. Keeping this in mind, Mumbai too cannot afford to be complacent.

Tamil Nadu are fortunate to have the international experience of captain Adam Sinclair. He demonstrated this by controlling the midfield brilliantly against last year’s runners-up Delhi in the quarter-finals and it made all the difference in their impressive 3-1 win.

Tamil Nadu have upcoming talent that showed promise and Sinclair held them together with brilliant distribution and effective thrusts that proved decisive. This will come to the fore again against Haryana whose 3-0 rout of Sports Authority of India in the last quarter-final makes them a serious threat.

Eager to enter their maiden championship round in the senior nationals, Haryana will hope to make the most of this opportunity. It is this determination and golden opportunity that Tamil Nadu will have to be wary of.

Friday: 6.30 p.m. Mumbai vs Chandigarh; 8 p.m. TN vs Haryana (Semi-finals, 63rd National Hockey Championship, Aishbagh Stadium, Bhopal)