CHA lifts Challenge Cup

CHANDIGARH,

HOSTS Chandigarh Hockey Academy, a venture of the Chandigarh Administration scored an authentic 3-1 verdict against Punjab and Sind Bank, Jalandhar in the final of the first Administrator’s Challenge Cup Hockey Tournament for Under-17 boys’ at the Sector 42 Hockey Stadium on Thursday.

Playing before the home crowd, the Chandigarh Hockey Academy boys played an inspired game. The highlight of the well-deserved victory for the hosts was a three-in-a-row feat by speedy Gagandeep Singh.

Egged on by the trainees of the football, hockey and cricket academies run by the Chandigarh Administration, the fast moving Chandigarh Hockey Academy boys made a whirlwind start as they struck in the very first minute through Gagandeep, who was later shown green card in the 34th minute. Hardly had the cheers of the home crowd had died down, the Chandigarh Hockey Academy struck again in the eighth minute through Gagandeep who scored another field goal.

Maintaining their relentless pressure, the hosts forced their first penalty corner in the 12th minute. The dashing Gagandeep, wearing jersy number 10, converted the penalty corner to complete his three-ina-row feat.

The Punjab and Sind Bank tried their best and started asserting themselves. In a counter move the bank men were able to reduce the margin by converting a penalty corner in the 46th minute when Gagandeep Singh rolled the ball in after capitalising on the rebound off the Chandigarh Hockey Academy goalkeeper Sukhjeet’s pads. The bank men forced penalty corners in the 15th, 30th, 46th, 48th and 64th minutes. They could convert only one.

Pradip Mehra, adviser to the Chandigarh Administrator distributed the prizes. The jubilant Chandigarh Hockey Academy boys were presented a glittering trophy and a cheque of Rs 50,000. The Punjab and Sind Bank team received the runners-up trophy and a cash incentive of Rs 25,000.