Own goal is Punjab’s golden goal in final

TNN

BANGALORE: The pendulum swung from end to end before an own goal by Air India’s VS Vinaya helped Punjab emerge champions in the Hockey India Senior men’s national championship with a stunning 2-1 extra-time victory at the KSHA stadium on Tuesday.

After having starred against Karnataka with a last-gasp winner in the semis on Monday, Vinaya was back in the limelight on Tuesday with an equalizer against Punjab, as well as the anti-climactic own goal that ended the contest that very moment.

The former India midfielder converted a penalty corner to put his side back in contention in the 38th minute after Prabhdeep Singh put Punjab ahead in the 36th minute, finding the target off a Satbir-Akashdeep move on the right. But going into extra-time, Air India were in for a big shock when Punjab striker Gurbaj Singh’s long ranger from the right flank saw the ball touch Vinaya’s stick en route to the goal.

Earlier, it was Air India who enjoyed territorial advantage with their strikers making easy inroads and their defenders and midfielders gelling well with one another. After the break, Punjab, coached by former India midfielder Baljit Singh Saini, went on the offensive, launching foray after foray and forcing as many as five penalty corners.

As Saini said later: “In the first-half, we opted for half-court press but in the second session, we changed it to full-court press. We attacked a lot and it made a difference.”

The victory comes as a remarkable achievement for Punjab, whose junior side emerged champions at the Junior Nationals a month ago in Lucknow. “Yes, it’s a great victory for us as our junior side also won the nationals a month ago,” said Saini. “This team has seven players from the junior team. The victory is also special because we beat an experienced side as Air India which has so many Olympians and international stars. We knew it would be a tough game and had a particular strategy.”

Meanwhile, Karnataka avenged their 2011 final loss to Haryana with a 2-1 victory to finish third in the tournament.

Upcoming Player of the Tournament MB Aiyappa (24) and skipper VR Raghunath (41) scored for Karnataka while Haryana found the consolation goal through their star player Sardar Singh in the 60th minute.