Gurmit Hockey: ONGC rout Punjab Police

Chandigarh: Indian Oil Corporation (IOC) routed Punjab Police 6-0 in the quarterfinals of the 38th SN Vohra’s All-India Gurmit Memorial Hockey Tournament, being played at Sector 42 Hockey Stadium, on Saturday. Punjab Police failed to capitalise on penalty corners they got in the 47th, 53rd and 60th minutes. On the other hand starstudded IOC capitalised on four out of five penalty they earned. Inderjit Chadha opened the floodgates for IOC with a field goal in the 22nd minute. Hardly had the cheers of IOC supporters died down, they earned their first penalty corner in the 25th minute with Raghunath converting it with a calculated shot. The winners led 2-0 at half time.

Three minutes into the second half, IOC forced their third penalty corner and Raghunath was again at hand to do the needful. Didar Singh then converted two penalty corner in the 43rd and 52nd minute to give IOC a 5-0 lead. Prabhjot Singh scored a fine field goal one minute before the hooter to cap a splendid win for IOC.

Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) became the second team to qualify for semifinals. They snuffed out the challenge of BSF 3-2 in a match played under lights. BSF matched ONGC in all departments of the game but ONGC just managed to pip them to the post. ONGC were two goals up within 17 minutes of the start of the match. Parmod scored a field goal to give them lead in the 15th minute and two minutes later, Diwakar Ram converted a penalty corner to make it 2-0.

After resumption, BSF players looked a transformed lot. Their first attack in the 38th minute resulted in Mandeep Singh scoring their first goal and three minutes later, Sunil Kumar banged home the equaliser. Tied 2-2, Mandip Singh snatched the match-winner for ONGC with a field goal in the 54th minute.