Karnataka, showing a marked improvement in every match, dished out a solid combined performance to take the match away from their opponents from the north.
They played within themselves and with right inner Nikkin Thimmaiah showing good opportunism rose to the occasion scoring twice in the first half to give his team a commanding 2-0 lead.
He fired Karnataka in front in the 22nd minute when he beat Punjab goalkeeper Bikramjit Singh with a rasping drive off Nagalinga's through pass and four minutes later he scored from the second penalty corner of the match.
Thereafter, Karnataka defended stoutly to deny Punjab any chance of getting back into the game. Punjab pressed hard in the final 20 minutes and even forced three short corners during this period but failed to find the target.
Special awards
Girl's:
Best goalkeeper: Savita (Haryana)
Best defender: Nidhi Tripathi (UP)
Best midfielder: Etwari Mundu (Jharkhand)
Best forward: Shivani (Chandigarh)
Player of the tournament: Raman Kaur (Haryana)
Boy's:
Best goalkeeper: Ankit Gulia (Haryana)
Best defender: Deepak Kullu (SAIL)
Best midfielder: Mohd Imran (UP)
Best forward: Akashdeep Singh (Punjab)
Player of the tournament: Nikkin Thimmaiah (Karnataka).