PNB rout Signals 7-1

Tribune News Service

Corps of Signals XI (Jalandhar) surrendered meekly (1-7) to Punjab National Bank (Delhi) on the third day in the inaugural All India Sahibzada Ajit Singh Hockey Championship at the Prithipal Singh Memorial Stadium here today.

Jalwinder Singh Toni scored a hat-trick as PNB registered an emphatic victory. He put his side ahead in the seventh minute through a penalty-corner and increased the lead three minutes later in a similar fashion. Jalwinder made it 3-0 in the 27th minute while Damandeep Singh added another immediately after. Jalwinder scored his fourth goal and Jatinder Singh (61st) and captain, Navdeep Singh (68th) contributed goals to complete the tally. Piyush of Signals struck towards the end of the encounter to reduce the margin.

In the second match, Indian Air Force (Delhi) outwitted Delhi XI 4-0 after leading by one goal at half- time. Lovepreet scored a brace while Rajinder Dewan and Pardeep Singh accounted for one goal each for the winners.

The third match between ONGC (Dehradun) and Namdhari XI of Bhaini Sahib turned out to be a keen tussle in which the former triumphed 3-2. It was ONGC XI who earned the lead in the 8th minute through a penalty corner and again in the 16th minute. The third goal came in the 22nd minute.

However, Namdhari did not give up easily as they bounced back into the match with Karamjit Singh and Ramanjeet finding the target in quick succession to make it 2-3. They exerted pressure on the rival’s but the much-needed equalizer eluded them.

No Chandigarh XI

Chandigarh: The Secretary of Chandigarh Hockey Association, Yash Vohra, today clarified that neither his association has been extended any invitation nor any affiliate unit of the association was authorised to use the name of Chandigarh XI in the inaugural Sahibzada Ajit Singh Hockey Tournament being played at Ludhiana. Team and players participating in the tournament had done so at their own level and risk, he added.