PNB win 3-2
Punjab National Bank (Delhi) survived a scare from Chandigarh XI before winning 3-2 in the first match of the inaugural Mahavir Real Estate All-India Sahibzada Ajit Singh Hockey Championship that began at the Prithipal Singh Memorial Stadium at the Agricultural University campus here today.
The bankmen drew first blood in the seventh minute through a field goal scored by Navdeep Singh while Chandigarh XI restored parity in the 25th minute through Gurjant Singh (1-1).
In the 31st minute, Chandigarh XI gained the lead when Gagandeep Singh converted a penalty-corner.
After changing ends, the PNB players pressed hard and raided the rivals’ territory time and again. These tactics paid off with Damandeep finding the target to level the score 2-2. He then pumped in another goal to help his team to wrap up the issue.
In the second match, Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC), Delhi, faced a little resistance from Delhi XI, whom they outplayed 4-1 to advance into the second round.
For ONGC, Vikas Topno (18th minute), Diwakar Rana (23rd and 64th) and Pramod Kumar (52nd) were the contributors while the lone goal for the losers came off Rajinder’s stick.
In the other matches, Namdhari XI (Bhaini Sahib) outgunned Indian Air Force (Delhi) 5-2 while Punjab and Sind Bank (Jalandhar) proved too good for Corps of Signal XI (Jalandhar) whom they drubbed 5-1.