S. Thyagarajan
CHENNAI: Hockey enthusiasts are assured of exhilarating fare this weekend when the climactic phase of the MCC-Murugappa Gold Cup tournament is held at the Mayor Radhakrishnan Stadium here.
The semifinal contests will witness well-balanced teams that have fought their way to this stage.
ONGC, which takes on the tough Army outfit in the first encounter, has won many admirers through its consistency and craft while maintaining an unbeaten record in Pool A.
Its hero has been the penalty corner specialist Diwakar Ram. His last minute goal to seal the 4-3 win against BPCL on Thursday underscored his temperament and technique. ONGC had an impressive run to the top of the pool, starting with a resounding 5-1 victory over defending champion Air-India.
The Army team’s strength is its fitness. The trio of Rajesh Kumar, Arumugam and Mundu can unsettle any defence. The key, however, has been the enigmatic veteran, Ignace Tirkey.
Pool B topper Indian Oil Corporation is regarded the most glamorous outfit among the semifinalists.
At the helm is star striker Deepak Thakur. With support coming from the experienced Inderjit Chada and Hamza Mujtaba, the IOC attack has been menacing.
However, the man who can change the fortunes of the team is Didar Singh, who can contribute in attack and as a drag flicker in penalty corners.
BPCL has had a fairly easy run in Pool A, thanks to the steady performance in midfield from Prabhdeep Singh and Sabu Varkey. In Amar Aiyamma, the team has a splendid striker who can change the course of the match within seconds.
Saturday’s matches: Semifinals: ONGC v Army; BPCL v IOC.