Sport - Hockey   

Kolkata retains title

VISAKHAPATNAM FEB. 17. Kolkata retained the all-India Major Ports' hockey title, beating runner-up Mumbai 6-5 in the sudden death in the final of the 24th edition of the championship at the Port Stadium here on Monday.

Host Visakhapatnam again finished third, beating Tuticorin 3-0 in the losing semifinalists' match.

The final was keenly fought and both teams had some good scoring opportunities. With the full time ending goalless, tie-breaker was introduced which also ended in a stalemate with both converting all the five penalties.

In sudden death, Kolkata's Mukti Prakash's push was blocked by the rival goalkeeper and Mumbai's Azad Khan's scooped out. In the next set of penalties, Prakash Thopo put Kolkata ahead finding the target while Mumbai captain Abhijit Shrishat was horrified to see his push going past the right post by a couple of inches.

In the tie-breaker, Prakash Thopo, Mukti Prakash, Dasarath Saha, Yousuf Bangra and Raja Rahidas were successful for Kolkata while Sridhar Krishnaswamy, Abhijit Shrishat, Javed Shaik, Azad Khan and Digvijay Naik converted for Mumbai.

Earlier Visakhapatnam beat Tuticorin to gain third place. K. Bhavani Shankar scored off a penalty corner in the 16th minute while M.S. Hussain pushed in a Nelson Peter pass in the 52nd minute and K.V. Anjaneya Rao rounded off the tally in the 59th minute after Narasimha Murthy put him through.

The visiting specialist of the Port Golden Jubilee Hospital, G.V. Suryanarayana, gave away the prizes. The deputy chairman of the Visakhapatnam Port Trust, Tamil Vanan, presided.

Iqbal Singh Rahal of Kolkata was adjudged as the best player and best forward of the tournament. John Kennedy Shazan of Tuticorin was the best goalkeeper, Ch. Dastagiri Basha of Chennai was best half back, G. Srinivas of Visakhapatnam was best full-back while Paradip received the best disciplined team award.

Printer friendly page  
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Sport

News: Front Page | National | Southern States | Other States | International | Opinion | Business | Sport | Miscellaneous |
Advts: Classifieds | Employment | Obituary |

Stories in this Section

World Cup

• Crass commercialisation - cause of all maladies
• These Kiwis are flying!
• The metamorphosis of Gibbs
• Bouncy track beckons Indians
• Hooper keen on openers coming good
• McGrath typifies Aussie aggression
• Obnoxious and against the spirit of sport
• Gibbs in select company
• Has Boucher dropped the 2003 Cup?
• Holland's best partnership for the last wicket
• Akram crosses 50 wkts
• Willey, Mallender opt out
• Speed mattered little to him
• Record-break commemorated
• Directive with a rider
• Defending dope charges
• Anti-doping tribunal
• "We miss you Hansie"
• Ready to take on any side
• "Minor teams must grow"
  
  Football
  
• Vasco rallies to hold Churchill
  
  Hockey
  
• Kolkata retains title
  
  Sports : General
  
• IOA to approach PM
  
  Tennis
  
• Radhika Tulpule crashes out
  
  Volleyball
  
• Grand double for Railways
  
  

Copyright © 2003, The Hindu. Republication or redissemination of the contents of this screen are expressly prohibited without the written consent of The Hindu