PSB, PP share title

Special Correspondent

KOLKATA: Former champions Punjab and Sind Bank (PSB) and Punjab Police (PP) were declared joint champions of the Coal India 113th all-India Beighton Cup hockey championship at the SAI ground here on Friday.

The two teams, sporting a number of internationals, were tied 2-2 at the end of the regulation time and 15 minutes of extra-time in the final match. As the tiebreaker was about to be introduced, the two captains agreed to share the trophy owing to poor light condition.

The verdict enabled PSB to win the trophy for the fifth time while PP won it for the fourth time.
Incisive raids

The game opened with PSB dominating the proceedings with incisive raids. The bankmen used the flanks to good effect and tried to breakthrough with some fine cross-field and through passes.

The mounting pressure did the trick and PSB scored in the 30th minute through Ranjodh Singh’s field goal. Even before Punjab policemen could recover, came PSB’s second strike a minute later. This time Rajwinder Singh made no mistake.

The two-goal cushion lulled PSB into complacency. After the change of sides, Punjab Police attacked repeatedly. Prompted by the best player of the tournament, Balwant Singh, the policemen broke through the PSB defence.

The team got its first goal in the 45th minute through the hard-working forward Amit Singh. Three minutes later an acrobatic push by Jagbir Singh restored parity.

Extra time drama

The game went into extra time where Punjab Police dominated. However, a few minutes before the final hooter, PSB got a hit just outside the striking circle and the ball flew into the net.

Umpire Barinder Singh, who did not have a good match, whistled for a goal but changed his decision to a hit in favour of Punjab Police.

PSB refused to continue the game and it was left to the local officials to convince the team to return. The game finally ended in a draw.