Grand double for Air India

Mumbai: Much-fancied Air India lifted the Mumbai Hockey Championship and thus completed a grand double of the season that concluded at the Mahindra Stadium, Churchgate, on Saturday. In the final, the airmen carved out a well-deserved 4-1 victory over Rashtriya Chemicals & Fertilisers (RCF) and pocketed a cash award of Rs20,000.

After winning the MHA league earlier in the season, Air India looked the best side in the championship too.

For the inexperienced RCF, who made it to the final after 23 years, it was a good opportunity to match in skills with the best team of the country. Though they tried their hearts out, it wasn’t enough for them to clinch the title against a visibly superior outfit.
RCF went into the lead as early as in the 12th minute when Laxman Rao latched onto a pass from Boon D’Souza and slotted it past Olympian Adrian D’Souza to stun the airmen.

But the joy was short-lived as within 10 minutes, Air India got back into the match through former Indian international Dhanraj Pillay who finished a move combining well with another Indian international Sameer Dad. The wily forward took his time before slotting the ball home with his patent half-push-half-hit.

RCF had earlier threatened the rivals on a couple of occasions but young Irfan Khan failed in the goalmouth. Prabodh Tirkey, then, put the fancied outfit in lead for the first time in the match when he converted the second penalty corner as the ball went off a defender’s stick over the ‘keeper Ankit Gulia.

Thereafter, it was no looking back for the champions who went on to bolster their lead twice. Vinay Swamy essayed a powerful reverse to find its way to the framework eluding goalie Gulia to make it 3-1. Shivendra Singh, however, sealed the fate following an indirect penalty corner which left the rival custodian sprawling on the ground.

But even with a 4-1 lead, Air India didn’t look content and ventured out for more success though opponents’ goalkeeper Gulia and defender Amit Gowda saved losers the blushes.

Air India snatched nine penalty corners of which they converted a couple while RCF had two but only to be squandered. Three-time Olympian and Arjuna Awardee Merwyn Fernandes was the Chief Guest.