Patiala bring down IAF

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, October 30

Gurshahzad struck twice as Hockey Patiala registered a 3-2 win over Indian Air Force on the third day of the 48th SN Vohra’s All-India Gurmit Memorial Hockey Tournament at the Sector 42 Sports Complex here today. 

After the initial struggle, Patiala got the breakthrough when Gurshahzad scored in the 20th minute. However, Harwant restored the parity for Indian Air Force (IAF) with a penalty corner conversion four minutes later.  

IAF then took the lead with Lovedeep scoring from a penalty corner in the 28th minute, but the side could hold the advantage for long as Prateek fired in the equaliser for Patiala in the 32nd minute. 

With the two sides locked 2-2, Gurshahzad broke the deadlock in the 50th minute as he successfully converted a penalty corner to turn the tables on IAF.   

PNB thrash Chandigarh XI 

In another match, Punjab National Bank (PNB) drubbed Chandigarh XI 7-0. 

The goal spree started as early as in the second minute when Gagandeep sounded the wooden plank. 

Sanjay doubled the lead for the bankers in the 12th minute, while Sumit Toppo pumped in back-to-back goals (16th, 18th) to stretch the lead to 4-0.

Two minutes later, Naveen made it 5-0, while Lovepreet registered his name on score-sheet a few seconds later. Gagandeep scored the final goal for the bankers in the 50th minute. 

Earlier in the day, South Central (SC) Railway thrashed ITBP 7-1. 

Ranjot (8th, 28th), Kullu (19th), Vijay Rana, Sheshe Gode (25th), Lovepreet (47th) and MG Poonacha (53rd) struck for SC Railway, while Punit (51st) was the lone scorer for ITBP.

Tomorrow, SC Railway will face Punjab & Sind Bank, while Hockey Patiala will take on Central Railway, Mumbai. Punjab Police will lock horns with CRPF in the last fixture of the day.