Air India beat ONGC, clinch Shastri Hockey title

Watched by a huge crowd, Air India beat Oil and Natural Gas Commission (ONGC) 4-2 in the final of the Lal Bahadur Shastri Hockey tournament in New Delhi at the Dhyan Chand National Stadium in New Delhi. Billed as the clash of titans, the match however, was decided in the first 15 minutes itself with Air India taking a big 3-0 lead.

They scored first through Birender Lakra through a field goal in the eighth minute, Len Aiyappa converted a penalty corner in the 11th minute to make it 2-0 and then Lakra tripled the lead in the 15th through another field goal.

The crowd applauded the efforts of the Airmen while the ONGC supporters in the stands sported a shocked look.

The teams went into lemon break at the score.

Perhaps goaded by their supporters or chastised by the team staff, the ONGC players managed to reduce the lead in the 50th minute when Bikas Toppo scored. But Yuvraj Walmiki’s strike in the 59th minute almost sealed it for Air India.

They were leading 4-1 and all hopes of an ONGC comeback looked far-fetched. ONGC did score in the 63rd minute, with Gurwinder Singh scoring through a penalty corner.

But it was too little, too late.