K’taka aim to end drought

Bengaluru: Last year's semifinalists Karnataka will start their quest to end their long title drought and lift the Santosh Trophy at the 76th National Football Championships beginning in Bhubaneswar on Friday.Four-time winners Karnataka last won the title in 1968-69 when Mysore beat Bengal 1-0 in extra time in Bengaluru. They last played the final in 1975-76 losing 1-3 to Bengal in Kozhikode.“We are aware of the long gap since our last win and our aim is to reach the final. We are here after putting in serious work in training and are confident of a good show,” Karnataka skipper Karthik G told TOI from Bhubaneswar.The team reached the Odisha capital on Wednesday morning after a 24-hour-long train journey. Karthik's team will open against Punjab in Group A on Friday before clashing against defending champions Kerala on Sunday. "Our focus is now on the first match against Punjab as a winning start will boost our confidence," said the skipper. Karthik, who was not in the state squad when hosts Kerala drubbed them 7-3 in the semifinals in Malappuram last year, said the team will take one match one at a time. “Our first target is Punjab, then will think about Kerala,” the Sporting Club Bengaluru player said.The skipper is looking forward to a stellar show from the midfield and the forwardline where young Ankith P is in focus. “He is now with the Karnataka team that has entered the Khelo India Youth Games final and will join us from there," Karthik said.Coach R Ravi Babu said his team was ready for the challenges ahead. “All the teams we are facing have come through dominating their qualifying groups and it’s going to be a tough challenge. But I would say our players are technically superior and we will reach the semis if we play to our potential,” the coach said.The top two teams from the two groups will advance to the semifinals. The semifinals and final are slated to be held in Saudi Arabia. Kerala will take on Goa in the tournament opener at 9am on Friday. Group A: Kerala, Punjab, Goa, Maharashtra, Karnataka, Odisha. Group B: West Bengal, Meghalaya, Delhi, Manipur, Services, Railways. Karnataka's matches: February 10: vs Punjab (3pm), Feb 12: vs Kerala (9am), Feb 14: vs Goa (9 am), Feb 17: vs Maharashtra (9am), Feb 19: vs Odisha.