The Hindu: PNB has the last laugh

PNB sprang a surprise by beating the fancied BPCL side 3-1 to win the Bengaluru Super Hockey League title here on Saturday.

The final was locked at 1-1 with just three minutes left when Gagandeep Singh scored through his second successful penalty corner. Sukhjeet Singh killed the contest with a fine individual goal just minutes later.

S.V. Sunil, who gave BPCL the lead, could barely exert any influence as PNB marked him out of the game with defender Sanjay always sticking close to him.

“BPCL is a strong team and they have current and past Olympians playing in their side,” said PNB coach Romesh Pathania. “But we played to a plan and succeeded.”

The results: Final: PNB 3 (Gagandeep Singh 25, 67, Sukhjeet Singh 70) bt BPCL 1 (S.V. Sunil 23); Third-place match: ONGC 5 (Abhay Kumar 11, 13, Sumit Kumar 26, Jagwant Singh 51, 68) bt Army XI Red 2 (Binay Bhengra 50, A.P. Siraju 53).

Special awards: Best player: S.V. Sunil (BPCL); Man of the final: Devinder Walmiki (BPCL); Best goalkeeper: Jasbir Singh (PNB); Best defender: Gagandeep Singh (PNB); Best midfielder: Pawal Lakra (Army Red); Best forward: Sukhjeet Singh (PNB).