“Defence first, Attack later. It was our strategy that worked today”. These words of Ajay Saroha, captain of the Bharat Petroleum Corporation Ltd, aptly sums up the final of the revived Aga Khan Cup staged today on the Bombay Gymkhana Grounds, Mumbai.
The fight for the top honours between Oil and Natural Gas Corporation Ltd, staged on the lush green Gymkhana grounds, did not rise to the level it was expected to but with the arrival of so many internationals from the Azlan Shah outing, added much colour to the week-long tournament.
Ajay Saroha not only scored a goal, but also stood like a rock of Gibraltor, while Ravi Pal Singh, set up many goals for his team mates with immaculate through passes and defence spiliting openings. Ajy Kumar was aptly declared Man of the Final. Both Ravi Pal and Ajay were among the scorers for BPCL, while it is Gurwinder Singh Chandi who bounced on a rebound from goalkeeper to post the only score of the losing team.
Development Credit Bank sponsored the tournament which was revived after a decade.
Detailed Report of the Final
Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited (BPCL), Bangalore scored a surprise 4-1 win against Oil & Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC), Delhi in the final of the DCB Presents Aga Khan hockey tournament – 2011, at the Bombay Gymkhana ground, on Saturday evening.
Full back Ajay Saroha converted two penalty corners while Ravi Pal Singh and Sher Singh netted a goal each to help BPCL emerge champions. Gurvinder Singh Chandi netted the lone goal for the losers.
The final was a low key affair as players from both the teams just seemed go through the paces and hardly showed much urgency in their approach towards the rival goal initially. ONGC with a couple of current Indian players in their ranks played well below par and did nothing much to trouble their opponents.
BPCL drew first blood in the 18th minute when Ravi Pal Singh was bang on target after picking up Hari Prasad’s forward pass. Sher Singh doubled the lead s he did well to tap home Amir Khan’s center from the right in the 31st minute to give BPCL a 2-0 half-time cushion.
ONGC had their share of chance to find the net, but international Chandi missed twice on either side of the lemon break.
BPCL knocked the fight out of ONGC by adding two more goals through their full back Ajay Saroha who converted two penalty corners in the 46th and 63rd minutes.
Fighting a losing battle, ONGC managed to score a late consolation goal through Chandi in the 67th minute.
The winners were richer by Rs 2.5 lakhs, while the runners-up received Rs 1.5 lakhs.
BPCL’s Saroha was adjudged the man-of-the-match, while Bikash Toppo of ONGC was declared player of the tournament.
Results
BPCL 4 (Ravi Pal Singh 17th, Sher Singh 31st, Ajay Saroha 46th, 63rd) bt ONGC 1 (Gurvinder Singh Chandi 67th).
Man-of-the-match: Ajay Saroha (BPCL).
Best goalkeeper: Jaswinder Singh (RCF, Kapurthala).
Best defender: Irshad Ali (BPCL).
Best midfielder: Ravi Pal Singh (BPCL).
Best forward: Pramod Kumar (ONGC).
Player of the tournament: Bikash Toppo (ONGC).