GURMIT HOCKEY

Chandigarh: Indian Overseas Bank (IOB), Chennai, prevailed over Electrical and Mechanical Engineers (EME) 10-9 in sudden death in the quarterfinals of the 38th SN Vohra’s All India Gurmit Memorial Hockey Tournament at Sector 42 Hockey Stadium on Sunday.

The tie-breaker rule was applied after the teams were locked four-all at the end of regulation time. IOC were comfortably leading 4-1 but EME staged a remarkable rally and scored three goals within a span of 14 minutes to restore parity. It was EME who drew the first blood in the 3rd minute through Avtar Singh who converted a penalty corner. IOC hit back immediately and pumped in two goals through Senthil Kumar (7th minute) and Vinod Rayer (8th minute). Vinod added another goal in the 45th minute by converting a penalty corner to give IOB 4-1 lead. In between D Felix scored IOC’s third goal in the 27th minute. Down by 1-4, EME went all out and swarmed the IOB and dished out excellent hockey . They scored three goals through Guhjinder (51st, 61st pc) and Jagjit (65th).

In the tie-breaker, IOB scored through D Felix (2), Senthil (2), Adam Sinclair (1) and Muthuselvin (1). Avtar Singh Junior (2), Akash (1), Avtar Singh (1) and Rajinder (1) successfully converted their penalties to reduce the margin for EME.

In another quarterfinal match, Air India derailed Western Railways 3-1. Sandeep Singh (35th, pc), AB Chennaya (64th) and Shivender (70th) scored for Air India to pilot them into the semifinals. Manish reduced the margin for Western Railways by scoring a field goal in the 62nd minute.

Monday’s fixtures (semifinals): IOB vs IOC (4 pm) and ONGC vs Air India (5.30 pm).