SURJIT HOCKEY- Air India clinch title

Kusum Arora

Air India Mumbai clinched the 28th Indian Oil Servo Surjit Hockey tournament by defeating holders Indian Oil Mumbai 4-2 at Olympian Surjit Hockey Stadium here today. This was a first ever win for Air India Mumbai in the tournament. The winners, apart from the trophy, bagged Rs 2.5 lakh, while the runners up received Rs 1.5 lakh. Affan Yousuf of Indian Oil Mumbai was declared the best player of the tournament and was awarded a gold medal. Chief Guest, local bodies minister Tikshan Sud gave away the prizes.

In the final, both leading teams of the country displayed controlled hockey but Indian Oil took the lead in the 18th minute. Dharamvir Singh took his team ahead with a field goal from left flank (1-0). At half time Indian Oil Dharamvir’s goal was the difference between the two sides.

When play resumed in the second half, Air India mounted pressure on Indian Oil and were duly rewarded with an equaliser in the 45th minute, when Joga Singh scored from the top of the circle (1-1).

Air India then took the lead when Rahul Shilpkar scored off a penalty corner to make it 2-1. This was followed by an equaliser by Indian Oil with Affan Yousaf scoring off a penalty corner in the 52nd minute. But the parity lasted only three minutes as Air India earned a penalty corner and Shilpkar converted a second penalty corner (3-2). Any hopes of a comeback were wiped off when Shilpkar converted another penalty corner to make it 4-2, handing his side the win and the title as well.