Manish Saini’s strike puts out Namdhari XI

GURGAON: Manish Saini struck the winning goal in extra-time as Western Railway pipped Namdhari XI for a berth in the super league of the Jindal Steel 45th Nehru hockey tournament at the Nehru Stadium here on Tuesday.

Hardeep Singh had put the Railway team ahead in the first minute and Chandrakesh Kumar had consolidated the position with another goal in the 53rd minute. However, the seasoned Sardara Singh scored two goals in the space of two minutes, including a penalty stroke conversion in the 65th minute to keep the Namdhari XI in the fray.

In extra-time, Manish Saini converted a penalty corner to seal the fate of the Namdhari team.

India Colts was the other team to gain a berth in the super league, and did so in style with an emphatic 4-1 victory over Karnataka XI.

Diwakar Ram was the hero of the Colts as he converted three penalty corners and the fourth goal also came through a penalty corner conversion by Innocent Kullu.

K.A. Nilesh pulled one back for the Karantaka team