Air India win Mumbai Hockey Championship
After the initial sparring RCF shot into the lead when Laxman Rao latched onto a pass from Boon D’Souza and smashed it past Olympian Adrian D’Souza to surprise the winners. It took almost ten minutes for Air India to get back into the match. It was the veteran Dhanraj Pillay who finished of the move after combining well with Sameer Dad. The wily forward took his time before sending the ball into goal with his patent half push half hit. RCF had earlier threatened on a couple of occasions but young Irfan Khan failed in the goalmouth. Air India short into the lead when Prabodh Tirkey converted the second penalty corner as the ball went off a defender’s stick over the keeper Ankit Gulia.
Air India added another two the tally with Vinay Swamy essaying a powerful reverse hit the left of Ankit Gulia. He outsmarted defender with a deft turn to make way for the short. Shivendra Singh rounded of the tally following an indirect penalty corner which left the rival keeper sprawled on the ground. Air India still went in search of goals but Gulia and Amit Gowda foiled their plans with the former bringing of at least three good saves and Gowda tackling in time to frustrate the rival forwards. Air India got nine penalty corners and converted two. RCF had two penalty corners which they failed to convert. Three time Olympian and Arjuna Awardee .Merwyn Fernandis was the Chief Guest.
Prabodh Tirkey was declared player of the tournament while Lalit Upadhyay and Amit Gowda were declared most
promising players.