AI clinches title

Mumbai: Air India, with a clutch of ex-internationals in their ranks, rallied brilliantly to overcome Oil and Natural Gas Commission 5-2 and lift the 9th Guru Tegh Bahadur all-India Gold Cup hockey tournament on Tuesday.

The Mumbai outfit, marshalled very well by ex-India players Dhanraj Pillay and skipper Sameer Dad, came from behind twice in the fast-paced final to douse the aspirations of their Delhi rivals and win the top prize of Rs 1.25 lakh.

Dad scored a brace of goals, including a superlative effort from a virtual zero angle on the left side which put AI 3-2 in front midway through the second half.

The other goal-getters for the winners were Girish Pimpale, Len Aiyappa and Mathias Minz. Jagwant Singh and Baljinder Singh got the goals for ONGC which got Rs 25,000. — PTI