The Hindu
Chennai: As many as 20 teams, including 11 outstation teams, are in the fray for the Winning XI Women’s Hockey Club’s annual tournament starting on Monday (August 3) at the Mayor Radhakrishnan Stadium. The final is scheduled for August 9.
This is the 17th year that the club is hosting the tournament to honour the memory of D.S. Rajamanickam, Feroz Ali Sheroff and Dhanraj.
That four more teams have come into the competition reflects the growing interest among women players, observed S.S. Madan, CM, (retd), Punjab and Sind Bank, and President Winning XI HC, on Friday.
SAI, Myladurai, KDM, Puliyampatti, SDAT Tiruvannamalai and SDAT (Chennai) are the new entrants this time. Madurai District will be defending the cup.
S.R. Bhasgeran (SRB), Chairman, organising committee, will once again sponsor the prize money of Rs.70,000. The winner will get Rs.40,000, while the second and third team will receive Rs.20,000 and Rs.10,000 respectively.
Southern Railway star and veteran Hubert Johnson will be the Tournament Director, Mothi Singh, the organising secretary, said.
IOB meets S. Railway
Indian Overseas Bank will lock horns with Southern Railway for the V.J. Peter memorial trophy in the Finpro Sports Management hockey tournament on Sunday at the Mayor Radhakrishnan Stadium.
In the semifinals on Saturday, IOB edged out Indian Bank comfortably by four goals to one, while Southern Railway scored an identical 4-1 victory over Integral Coach Factory.
Railway’s demolition of the once formidable ICF was an interesting battle. When Karan struck early from a penalty corner to give Railways the impetus, the ICF defence was no match to the system and consistency of the rival attack led commendably by Karan, Armugam and Mahindra Singh.
After a 1-0 lead in the first half, Railway struck when Karan scored again off a low penalty corner. But the best effort of the match came midway through. Mageshwaran wove his way on the left, and let a brilliant backhander which culminated in Arumugam sliding into the circle to connect the pass into the boards.
Again, Arumugam struck from the top of the circle to get his second goal. Late in the match ICF reduced the margin through Ashok Kumar.
Indian Overseas Bank was sailing smooth throughout, with an impressive lead of 3-0 at half-time. Iyappan obtained two goals followed by Senthil and Adam Sinclair. The lone goal for Indian Bank came from V. Raja in the final minutes.