However, by defeating Uttarakhand 20-25, 25-16, 25-16, 25-21 in the playoff second round match (pre-quarterfinal) on Sunday, Punjab made it to the last eight and set up a clash with 12-time champion Railways. Punjab got into the groove in the second set, thanks to some wonderful spiking from Kanwarpal Singh and Hardeep Singh. Earlier, in the women’s playoff second-round match, Haryana scripted a comfortable 25-17, 25-14, 25-14 win over Uttar Pradesh. The results: Playoff second round (pre-quarterfinals): Men: Punjab bt Uttarakhand 20-25, 25-16, 25-16, 25-21; Women: Haryana bt Uttar Pradesh 25-17, 25-14, 25-14. Lower pool qualifiers: Men: Uttarakhand bt Gujarat 25-19, 25-21, 25-19; Maharashtra bt Rajasthan 25-17, 23-25, 25-21, 25-15.

Source: The Hindu January 06, 2019 16:52 UTC