The Hindu : Ponappa to Indian Airlines' rescue

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Monday, May 13, 2002

Sport

Sport - Hockey

Ponappa to Indian Airlines' rescue

By Our Special Correspondent

MUMBAI MAY 12. Goalkeeper Jagdish Ponappa is using every chance to come out of Ashish Ballal's shadow. With the experienced senior on the bench using his vocal chords to keep teammates on their toes, the young custodian helped Indian Airlines escape with an honourable 1-1 draw against Oil & Natural Gas Commission in full cry on Sunday.

The second quarterfinal league match of the 100th Aga Khan hockey tournament (sponsored by Bharat Petroleum) saw penalty corner hitter Jaskaran Singh coming to Punjab Police's rescue with a thundering 69th minute shot against local side Western Railway, which had to be content with a 2-2 draw after taking the lead twice.

Ponappa got no respite against ONGC, who forced 11 penalty corners in all, four of them coming in rapid succession following an attacking blitz. Penalty corner specialist Anurag Raghuvanshi was in his element, alternating between wristy drag flicks and snap shots to keep the defenders guessing.

The first goal came off a Raghuvanshi special in the 22nd minute, crouching low to propel a drag towards the roof. The IA custodian stretched out his right hand to put the stick in the ball's path, but was beaten when Amarjeet swept home with a half-turn, connecting on the first bounce.

Brojen Singh's speed and tricky bodyplay got him within striking range twice, his first shot streaking across the goalmouth even as fellow striker Altaf-ur-Rehman rushed in to get a hopeful touch. The next time Brojen was in the frame, running onto a diagonal pass from the left, but could not connect. IA's anxiety at these goalmouth misses turned to cries of delight when Virender Kumar, coming in for Altaf, scooped home a 50th minute equaliser off a rebound, Brojen again making his presence felt with a snap shot.

IA saw Suresh Kumar being sent out with a yellow by umpire Blaise Monteiro, who then punished ONGC's Aftab for dissent with another temporary suspension. Western stunned Punjab Police with a fifth minute field goal, Chander Pal racing forward through the inside right channel, then directing the ball towards the left post for Mukhtiar Singh to complete the move with a deflection. Punjab Police goalkeeper Ashok Kumar, beaten hands down, recovered his poise as Western went on the offensive, attacking from every available angle. Vijay Alphonso and Mukhtiar were denied, then a Sunil Kumar direct hit off Western's first penalty corner of the match found Avtar producing a goalline save.

Punjab Police, overworked in the defence and striving hard without success to wrest midfield control, finally drew level through a soft goal from Gabbar Singh, whose hopeful try from the top of the circle resulted in the ball rolling in past goalkeeper Sahiram, diving in the same direction, but almost in slow motion as if unable to sight the ball till it was too late. The stunned expressions on the Western bench was understandable, but skipper Shanta Kumar lifted the mood with a snap goal off a free hit.

Four minutes later came the second equaliser, a minute before the hooter through Jaskaran Singh, this time giving Sahiram no chance with a clean, crisp penalty corner hit to the boards.

Monday's matches: BPCL vs ONGC, Indian Airlines vs CRPF (both Pool B quarterfinal league).

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