Nagpur: The final of the Challenge Cup hockey tournament was the fight between youth and experience. In the end, after a gruelling battle of 70 minutes, youngsters prevailed over experience as New Police Boys quelled the spirited challenge of Range Police to emerge triumphant.

Although there was just a solitary goal in the entire duration of the match, there was no shortage of high-speed action at the Police Lines Takli ground on Monday evening.

The 16th minute goal by Ritesh Kalakoti turned out to be the match-winner as Police Boys hung on grimly to their slender lead to seal the issue in their favour. It was a maiden title for Police Boys, who lost in the semifinals against eventual champions City Police last year.

On the second penalty corner, Ritesh brilliantly deflected the ball inside the goal off a hit taken by Ubert Royal, catching Range Police goalkeeper Amol Bhambhulkar unawares.

Thereafter, Range tried hard in pursuit of an equalizer but strong defensive work by Police Boys undid all their efforts. They earned six short corners but Police Boys defenders and custodian Vikrant Patil were equal to the task.

In the 42nd minute, Vinod Selokar attempted a superb reverse flick but Patil showed remarkable reflexes to block the rasping shot with his pads. Few minutes later in another penalty corner, Amit Yesur’s grounder just went wide of the target.

Police Boys too had couple of goal-scoring opportunities but Sayyad Niyaz Rahim, his elder brother Imtiyaz and Rahul Kalakoti failed to capitalize on them.

“We expected final to be a tough encounter as Range is an experienced side. It was a good effort from our boys, particularly by the defenders. They (Range) pressed on hard in the second session as they managed to make some good moves from the left flank,” Police Boys skipper Niyaz Rahim told TOI after the match.

“Actually we both know each others’ strong points and weaknesses as we practice on the same ground. After beating some of the strong teams earlier in the tournament our confidence was high and that really helped us in the final,” added teenage striker Niyaz.

Rahul Kalakoti was the star performer for the winners as he scored 16 goals in the tourney which lasted more than a month.

Savio Andrew, Shahbaz Pathan, Shrikant Kalakoti and Saqib Rahim were some of the finds of the tourney and they all were honoured by the organizers City Police and Police Boys Sporting Club during the prize distribution programme.

INDIVIDUAL PRIZES

Man of the final: Ritesh Kalakoti, Man of the tournament: Sayyad Niyaz Rahim, Highest goal scorer: Rahul Kalakoti (all New Police Boys), Best goalkeeper: Amol Bhambulkar (Range Police).