The Hindu : Punjab Police sails into semifinals

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Saturday, Apr 13, 2002

Sport

Sport - Hockey

Punjab Police sails into semifinals

BANGALORE April 12 . Title Holder Punjab Police's powerplay ensured that it was the first team to reach the semifinal of the U & I Champions Trophy hockey tournament. On Friday here at the Karnataka State Hockey Association stadium, Punjab Police pounded Indian Railways 5-2 to notch up its fourth straight win on the trot. The team's early form suggests that it would be able to retain the title, However, Karnataka's dogged effort in Pool B raises some slim hopes for the home team's chances.

Punjab Police made repeated raids into the Railways defence area but was only able to earn success in the 24th minute. Skipper Daljit Singh pounced on a pass from Sarabjit Singh and gave Railways goalkeeper Ambuj Srivastava no chance.

After the interval it was a different tale altogether. With some close calls off the penalty corners awarded including a scorcher from Jugraj Singh that hit the horizontal, Baljit Singh Dhillon scooped the ball in off the fourth penalty corner. Daljit Singh scored the third goal for Punjab Police and then set up Tejbir Singh to score the fourth. A swift run from the left flank saw Daljit streaking the ball in goalwards and Tejbir was alert enough to guide home the deflection. Last year's cup winners rounded off its scoring efforts with Baljit Singh's scoop off a penalty corner hitting the crossbar and falling short. Tejbir tapped the ball in from the goal line.

Railways had two credits in the goalsheet. Sunil Kumar scored in the 63rd minute and S Barla reverse swept the ball from the top of the circle in the 69th minute.

Karnataka headed the top of Pool B with 10 points from four matches with a last minute goal against Army XI here on Friday. But with Indian Airlines (nine points) and Punjab & Sind Bank (seven points) still in contention Pool B yet looks and open affair. Badly depleted with main striker Arjun Halappa not playing due to a fever, Karnataka seemed to meander through most of the match.

Army XI shored up its defence and held Karnataka at bay and looked all set to share honours when skipper Kavin seized the last ditch opportunity and scored off a reverse sweep.

In another match, Punjab & Sind Bank scored a narrow 2-1 win over IHF XI. All the scoring action was in the second half with PSB scoring first off Parminder Singh's efforts (43rd). IHF did well to level scores in the very next minute with Edmond Karketa taking the honours. PSB's match winner came in the 65th minute off a penalty corner converted by B.S Saini.

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