PSB Academy enter semis

Chandigarh: Punjab and Sind Bank Academy, Jalandhar, became the fourth team to qualify for the semifinals of the inaugural Administrator’s Challenge Cup U-17 Hockey Tournament, being hosted by Chandigarh sports department at Sector 42 Hockey Stadium on Wednesday.

In their final Pool C match, Punjab and Sind Bank outclassed Chandigarh administration-run Sector 42 Coaching Centre 5-1. PSB Academy completed their four-team league programme with an-all win record. They topped their pool with three wins from as many outings.

Punjab and Sind Bank converted two penalty corners out of six awarded to them.

Amandeep Singh opened the scoring when he converted a penalty corner in the 12th minute while Gagandeep Singh converted the second in the 32nd minute. The winners enjoyed complete territorial supremacy throughout the match. Ramandeep Singh (20th), Manjinder Singh (46th) and Gaurav Singh Rana (51st) added one field goal each to complete the rout. The losers wasted two penalty corners. They scored their lone goal off a penalty stroke in the 39th minute, which was put into the goal by Ashish Kumar. In another Pool C encounter, Punjab National Bank Academy, Delhi, earned full points as they prevailed over a fighting Mehta Gurukul Hockey Academy, Doraha, 3-2.

Vinay Shankar Shukla converted a penalty corner in the 19th minute to put PNB ahead. The Doraha team hit back and restored parity in the 37th minute through Harminder Singh. Then Ramanvir scored a field goal to enable Mehta Gurukul Academy gain lead in the 38th minute.

PNB boys bounced back by scoring two goals in the last 10 minutes of the game. First Amarbir Singh found the target in the 54th minute to neutralize lead and then Siddharath Shankar snatched the match-winner for Punjab National Bank by scoring a field goal in the 64th minute.Tuesday’s fixtures (semifinals): Surjit HA vs PNB Academy (5.30 pm), Chandigarh Hockey Academy vs Lucknow HA (7.30 pm).