Date:24/11/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/11/24/stories/2008112452671800.htm

Sport - Hockey

ONGC makes semifinals

GURGAON: K. H. Jayanta Singh struck a telling blow as Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) XI beat President’s XI, Bangladesh, 1-0 to squeeze into the semifinals of the Jindal Steel 45th Nehru hockey tournament at the Nehru Stadium here on Sunday.

In the semifinals, India Colts will meet ONGC in the first match and Bharat Petroleum will take on Punjab and Sind Bank, in a repeat line-up of last year’s final.

Withstanding several anxious moments after the goal in the seventh minute, ONGC eased into the semifinals, despite the other contender South Central Railway recording a 3-1 victory over last year’s runner-up Bharat Petroleum.

All the three teams in group ’B’ finished with six points each, and it was the better goal difference of Bharat Petroleum and ONGC that ensured the qualification for the two teams.

Bharat Petroleum topped the group by virtue of having scored more goals.

Mohammed Aleem, Ashish Minz and Mayank James found the goals in guiding South Central Railway to its memorable victory over Bharat Petroleum, for which Hari Prasad scored the only goal.

In an inconsequential group ’A’ match, Western Railway defeated Heroes Club, Pakistan, 3-1 after the teams were locked 1-1 at halftime.

Hardeep Singh (2) and Rajnish Chaturvedi scored the goals for the Railway team after Arif Baig had put the Pakistan team ahead in the 11th minute.