Formidable Begumpur defeated in the DDA Inter-school Hockey cup final
It was waiting to happen, and it did. First time ever since One Thousand Hockey Legs project was implemented in the capital city, the invincible Begumpur lions were tamed today in the revived DDA Inter-School Invitational Hockey Cup at the sprawling DDA Sri Fort Sports Complex.
Government Boys Senior Secondary School, Begumpur – which forms bulk of any combined OTHL Team – smashed the fighting GBSSS Khanpur in the semifinal 3-1 despite the losing team had two imports in Rahul and Rohit, the famed duo who now migrated to a top brand city school.
On the other hand, OTHL Delhi’s No.2 team, GBSSS, Saket, fought very hard against ever-improving Anglo-Arabic Sr. Sec. School in the first semis, but had to concede an own goal – and the goalie claims it was because he doesn’t know the rule – and thus lose the honour to engage their traditional foe Begumpur in the final.
So it was expected the final, played against around 200 OTHL kids, will be a whitewash for the Anglo-Arabic.
For, Anglo Arabic lost to the Begumpur Colts in the Dhyan Chand Cup 2014 organized jointly by Nehru Society and OTHL, and the question of them defeating Begumpur Seniors did not occur to anybody who follows OTHL in Delhi.
However, as the ball set rolled in the final, it was clear the Begumpur boys were up for a task, and today will not be same.
Like Indian men did five hours later at the Major Dhyan Chand National Stadium, Anglo Arabic took 2-0 lead with goals coming from Guffran and Ayan Ali. Begumpur was stunned, but showed patience and immense fighting qualities to even out in the second half. First Brajgopal Patra struck on his own and then set up ultimate Player of the Tournament Kishen Kashyap to effect a gentle tap to bring the contest at 2-2.
When a few seconds remained for the final hooter, Anglo-Arabic got a penalty corner and ever-reliable, lanky defender Md. Rehan sent a scorching grounder to the left of otherwise alert goalie Ankit Kumar to steal the show.
Begumpur lost because it did not have bench strength while it was all round performance of new kids in the rival side that gave the edge.
Col. Ahlawat gave away the prizes in the presence of Ballab Anand, Manager of the SFSC.
10 schools took part in the tournament, 20 matches were played before the classification matches started today. The teams were divided into two pools, with five teams in each pool. This has provided each match to play a minimum of four matches.
Anglo-Arabic School, Ajmeri Gate defeated Govt. Boys Sr. Secondary School, J block Saket in the first semi-final 1-0 (own goal).
DDA Invitational Inter-School Hockey Cup 2014
Sri Fort Sports Complex, 9th to 15th 2014
Special Awards
Best player of the tournament: Kishen Kashyap of Govt. Boys Sr. Sec. School, Begumpur.
Best Forward: Irshad Ali, Govt. Boys Sr. Sec. School, Pushp Vihar, Sec 1
Best Midfielder: Ayan Ali of Anglo-Arabic Sr. Sec. School, Ajmeri Gate, New Delhi
Best UpComing Star: Ram of Govt Co-Ed Sarvodaya Bal Vidyala
Best Defender: Md. Guffran of Anglo Arabic Sr. Sec. School, Ajmeri Gate, New Delhi.
Umpires
Sashikant Singh
Umpire: Rohit
Umpire: Parshant
Umpire: Sachin Pal
Umpire: Anshul
Technical Official: N. Shanti
WINNER OF THE DDA INTER-SCHOOL HOCKEY CUP 2014: Anglo-Arabic Sr. Sec School, Ajmeri Gate, New Delhi.
RUNNERS UP OF THE DDA INTER-SCHOOL HOCKEY CUP 2014: Govt Boys Sr. Sec. School, Begumpur, New Delhi.