Chandigarh: Training Command (TC) trounced Air Headquarters (Air HQ) 7-1 to storm into the semifinals of the Air Force Hockey Championship, being played at Sector 42 Sports Complex on Wednesday. In the semifinals, to be played on Thursday, TC will cross swords with Western Air Command (WAC) who mauled Eastern Air Command (EAC) 6-1 to seal their berth in the last four stage.

Ramesh Lakra put TC ahead as early in the 3rd minute with a fine flick. Dominating the proceedings from thereon, TC forward line went for the kill, which helped them to create gaps in their opposition defence. TC sounded the board twice before the breather through S Kumar (15th) and H Kumar (23rd).

Air HQ’s fortunes didn’t change, as after changing sides, TC pumped in four more goals to ensure that they reach semifinals without any hiccups. Prakash made it 4-0 for TC in the 44th minute with a fine field goal. Other scorers for the winning side were Nadeem (53rd), Billooram (69th) and H Kumar (70th) while VC Sharma pulled one back for Air HQ in the 55th minute.

In another lop-sided encounter, WAC registered a facile 6-1 verdict over EAC. The dominance of WAC players could be gauged by the fact that they scored all six goals in the first half and experimented different combinations in the second half. S Singh put WAC ahead in the opening minute of match when sounded the board with a powerful hit. Thereafter floodgates opened for WAC, as Kispota made it 2-0 three minutes later while Satvir pumped in two goals in the 5th and 7th minute. Though Suneel pulled one back in the 9th minute for EAC, it didn’t help their cause, as Cpl Manjot Singh and Cpl Singh sounded the board twice in the 11th and 21st minute, respectively, to pave their team’s march into the semifinals.

In the second semifinal, South Western Air Command (SWAC) will take on Central Air Command (CAC). In a well-contested encounter, SWAC beat Maintenance Command (MC) 2-0. JP Saini drew the first blood for the winning team when he scored a fine field goal in the 29th minute while Domnic made it 2-0 when his flick caught the MC custodian on the wrong foot. The match between CAC and Southern Air Command (SAC) ended in a goalless tie.