Golden goal gives IOC the Nehru Cup
Despite entering the fray through a taxing qualifying route — and has the history of not reaching the finals for the last three years — Indian Oil Corporation’s hockey team today won the prestigious Senior Nehru Cup with a golden goal, obtained two minutes into the extra time.
Earlier, fighting Bharat Petroleum held the IOC 2-2 in the normal play time. Captain Deepak Thakur deflected a perfect carpet slap shot of Gurjinder Singh for the golden goal.
It’s a memorable win for the IOC team, as it had to strike a golden goal in the semifinal against ONGC too to annex the coveted trophy.
In fact, Nehru Cup is another addition to the great going of the team in the season, after it won the Surjit Cup in Jalandhar and of late the oldest of Indian competitions, the Beighton Cup.
It also shared the Murugappa Cup in Chennai this season.
Bharat Petroleum, which came out successfully against Air India – which ultimately proved to be a bad loser, as they walked out the tournament – today put up a good fight.
However, Gurjinder Singh, who won a record sum as Player of the WSH, came out with a opening goal in the 14th minute, and saw it annulled through a great backhander from Jarnail Singh two minutes later.
However, a self goal, off Gurjinder’s penalty corner led IOC to 2-1 at lemon time.
Gurpreet Singh brought the score on parity when he struck in the 49th minute through an immaculate penalty corner conversion . Earlier, both Tushar Khandker and Hari Prasad missed many good moves in which they were very much involved.
The team has won the trophy as well as a hefty Rs.2.5 lac purse.
Earlier, ONGC which lost to the IOC on a self-goal in the extra time of the semifinal, was declared the bronze medal winner, and with that Rs.75,000 since the match was scratched.
Air India, which objected to the award of winning goal of Bharat Petroleum in the semis, has been debarred from competing in the hardline match.