India makes a winning start in the Punjab Gold Cup. Sandeep Singh scored the first goal off the second penalty corner while athletic Shivender Singh enlarged the lead in the second half. All that the Kiwis team could do was to manage a penalty corner within first ten minutes of the match.

After wasting the first penalty corner, India came up alive in the second. It was the recalled star Arjun Halappa who manufactured – in a matured way of course – the penalty corner, capitalizing a circle penetration.

Rajpal was perfect in pushing and the all rounder Arjun was equally adept at stopping. The stage was set for the local hero – a star for the Chandigarh Dynamos team – unleashed whiplash of a shot, which went middle of the net. The crowd went ecstatic, as captain Sandeep Singh threw open his hands skaywards.

The second Indian goal had all the trappings of Shivender Singh – and also proved why he relishes the Chandigarh Sector 42 stadium.

In a left flank move, the ball was served to him by tireless Tushar, which he received from the right top of the circle. Without wasting anytime, he swirled and posted a powerful reverse hand to douse whatever hopes the Kiwis had of coming back into the team.

Late in the proceedings, Vikram Pillay was shown a yellow card, which will send shivers down the management team of India. Pillay was playing well, and was expected to be in the thick of things in the days to come, but the early yellow card must keep him on tender hooks.

The match did not rise to a reasonable level, perhaps both teams went cautiously.

Sandeep Singh got the Man of the Match award sponsored by Mahindra and Mahindra. Political bigwig of Punjab, Sukhbir Singh Badal, watched the whole match and presented the above award.

The crowd was large, and it melted away after the Indian encounter.