After Oil slick, Air India skid

Express News Service

Posted: Nov 20, 2008 at 0002 hrs IST

New Delhi, November 19 Hockey’s glamour teams sent packing early

The traditional order was turned upside down at the Nehru hockey tournament on Wednesday. Two of the best— and strongest— teams in domestic Indian hockey were sent packing in their first match itself.

For more than a year, Indian Oil and Air India — the merged entity after India Airlines and Air India came together — have dominated Indian hockey. Of the seven events held this year, four saw the duo clash for the title. In the other three, one of the two was in the final.

On Wednesday, though, both teams lost to less fancied opponents. While South Central Railway thrashed Indian Oil 3-0, Air India lost to ONGC XI in the tie-breaker.

KK Bharath gave the Railway’s team the lead in the very first minute, while Mayur Subbaiah doubled it in the 21st minute off a penalty corner.

Prabhakar Singh then rounded off the tally in the 44th minute to ensure that the oilmen, who had to win only this one match to move into the quarterfinal league, went home.

In the other match, ONGC did not have it as easy, but managed to book their quarterfinal spot after getting past favourites Air India in the tie-breaker, after the teams were tied 1-1 at the end of regulation time. Harman Singh converted an indirect penalty corner for ONGC while Sandeep Singh equalised for Air India. In the tie-breaker, Baljinder, Harpal Singh, Bikash Toppo and Amit Bharadwaj scored for ONGC while Arjun Halappa and Sandeep Singh missed for Air India.

“What can I say? We were completely outclassed in every department — attack, midfield and defence. We had almost 10 players who were part of the India camp recently —while Indian Oil had almost seven. But both teams lost,” said Air India Harendra Singh, who also happens to be the chief national coach.

Thursday’s fixtures:India Colts vs S-C Railway, Punjab & Sind bank vs Western Railway, BPCL vs Bangladesh XI.