IOB completes hat-trick of titles

CHENNAI, OCT. 12. Showing admirable grit and gumption, host Indian Overseas Bank overcame Canara Bank (Bangalore) 3-1 to complete a memorable hat- trick of titles in the twelfth all- India inter-bank hockey tournament at the SDAT-Mayor Radhakrishnan Stadium on Friday. IOB had defeated Canara Bank (Bangalore) in the last edition at Pune.

With good co-ordination and fine athleticism, IOB put up a good show overall, though they did slacken a bit in the second session, after being 2-0 ahead.

Canara Bank, it should be admitted, was not as athletic as the IOB forward line, and that showed in the several breakaway moves by the champion outfit.

International M. Senthil opened the account for IOB in the 16th minute when his backhander was right on target. IOB foxed Canara Bank in a penalty corner which defender Padmanabhan scored in the 23rd minute. The first half, clearly, belonged to IOB.

When the first session was coming to a close, Gopinath ran through the defenders from the left flank and pushed the ball home. Umpire R. Vanderputt, while initially agreeing for a corner for infringement changed his decision on seeing the ball going past the goalline and awarded the goal to IOB.

But after a brief argument with the players of both the teams, Vanderputt reverted to the corner which IOB did not capitalise.

Vanderputt later admitted that it was a mistake on his part. The controversy did not stop there and erupted within a couple of minutes for the hooter.

Canara Bank came up with a relatively better performance in the second session with Kaverappa and Varghese John combining well to create confusion in IOB camp. But Ricky Ganapathy disappointed as he failed to cash in on a couple of chances. Varghese John and Sunil Benjamin played with some sort of assurance.

Arun Kumar dribbled past a couple of defenders to put the ball home comfortably in the 69th minute to make it 3-1 for IOB. It was Kaverappa who reduced the margin for Canara Bank by converting a penalty corner in the 55th minute.

Towards the close, Canara Bank `scored' when Varghese John deflected the ball of a free hit. Vanderputt allowed the goal but when IOB players protested stating that the free hit was way above the ground and hence should not be awarded, Vanderputt in consultation with the other umpire Sathya Prakash came to a conclusion that the ball was in fact in the air during the free hit. As a result play was put on hold as the players entered into an argument with the umpire before the final whistle blew.

D. Muthukumar of IOB was declared the man of the tournament and was awarded with a cash prize of Rs.1,000. Mr. R. Natarajan, Executive Director, Indian Overseas Bank, presided and gave away the prizes.

The winner carried home Rs.25,000, while the runner-up got Rs.15,000.

Indian Overseas Bank (Chennai) team which won the title for the third consecutive time in the all- India inter-bank hockey tournament at the SDAT Radhakrishnan Stadium on Friday. From left to right (Squatting):

G. Padmanabhan, G. Gopinath, V. Porchezhian, A. Rajendran, I. Gandhi,

L. Anandan, B. Arun Kumar, M. Senthil (captain). Standing: S. Parthiban,

S. Sasikaran, D. Felix, R. Vimalanathan, K. Manoj Kumar (Trainer),

K. N. Muddiah (coach), Mr. R. Natarajan, Executive Director, IOB,

chief guest, Aezaz Ahmed (Sports officer), M. Arif Ahmed (Manager),

R. Sathyavelu, D. Muthukumar, V. Raja Vetri Chelvan, M. Rajinikanth,

R. Mahesh, M. Nedunchezhian.

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