Date:19/02/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/02/19/stories/2008021953511700.htm

Sport - Hockey

Birendra Lakra helps SAIL retain title

Principal Correspondent

Gets the better of Chandigarh Academy in extra-time

— Photo G. Krishnaswamy

VICTORIOUS BUNCH: Members of the SAIL team, which won the Junior National hockey championship, pose with the trophy.

HYDERABAD: Birendra Lakra produced a classy effort in extra-time to score the golden goal and help defending champion, Steel Authority of India Ltd., retain the trophy with a 4-3 win over Chandigarh Academy in the final of the fourth junior National hockey championship for boys here on Monday.

With the teams tied three-all at full-time, the focus shifted to golden goal rule and SAIL clearly dominated the extra-time.

Classy effort

And, Birendra perhaps chose to give his best when it mattered most. He positioned himself perfectly for a swift cross from the right-flank by Sanjeet Kujur, who was outstanding with his precise passes, to essay a beautiful, reverse flick which stunned the Chandigarh defence and triggered off celebrations in the SAIL camp in the 80th minute.

It was the Chandigarh outfit which took the lead in the 12th minute when Harvinder Singh dribbled down the right flank, hoodwinked the closely marking defenders and drew the custodian too far out to dodge past him and score a fine goal.

Soon, Chandigarh struck again when Harmandeep Singh latched on to a centre from the left to find the target.

Fightback

But, SAIL was unfazed as it launched a series of counter-attacks and converted the first penalty-corner it earned when Jerom Lakra’s powerful indirect hit caught the Chandigarh defence off-guard in the 28th minute.

It equalised when Wilson Minz seized on a lovely through ball from Sanjeet from the right to slam the ball from the top of the ‘D’.

On resumption, Chandigarh Academy took the lead once again when an unmarked Dawinder Singh produced a rasping carpet drive from the top of the ‘D’ to find the target in the 53rd minute. But its joy was short-lived as SAIL fought back within a minute through Amardeep who trapped a free-hit from the left and deceived the crowded defence with a fine reverse flick to make it three-all.

Then SAIL emerged the winner in extra-time thanks to the brilliance of Birendra.

Bihar finishes third

Earlier, Bihar defeated Andhra 2-1 to bag the third place.

V. Dinesh Reddy, IPS and President of Hyderabad Hockey Association, gave away the prizes.