Thursday, Nov 20, 2003
Thursday, Nov 20, 2003 |
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Hockey
In pool `B', Indian Airlines opened its campaign in style, drubbing Tamil Nadu XI 4-1, while in pool `D', Border Security Force (BSF) managed a 2-1 victory over Indian Navy. The top two teams from each of the four three-team pools will qualify for the quatterfinals. Amar Aiyamma wasted two openings before slotting in BPCL's first goal in the 22nd minute, off a hard-hit cross from Pundlik Bellary on the right. Twleve minutes later, Varkey put a long ball from the middle into the circle where Sandeep Michael was lurking around for just that kind of an opportunity. He placed into an empty cage after goalkeeper Manpreet found his charge futile. Within seconds of that goal, Punjab Police pulled one back, Sarabjeet Singh tapping home from a goalmouth scrimmage. Dhillon finally put the police team on even terms with a penalty-corner drag-flick in the 11th minute of the second half. BPCL should have won against a rusty Punjab Police team on the run of play. Sabu Varkey, wily as ever, masterminded the attacks while Amar Aiyamma and Sandeep Michael chipped in handsomely in the frontline. At the BPCL defence, Len Aiyappa, S. S. Gill and M. Prakash kept such a close watch on Gagan Ajit Singh's movements that the star spearhead was made more or less ineffective. The burden thus fell entirely on Baljit Singh Dhillon in the Punjab Police frontline and even though the inside forward strove hard to get his team going, for much of the first half the Jalandhar policemen could manage only disjointed, sporadic thrusts. The loss of Bipin Fernandez, early in the match, due to a bleeding injury below his right eye, that required stitches, was a blow BPCL could ill afford against a tough adversary. Yet, there was no let-up in its attacks, with Varkey in his inimitable style, doing the hard work in the middle with good support from Tushar Khandekar. BPCL had the better of the exchanges after that but wasted a few chances. Varley continued to pose threats with his fleunt runs but himself was guilty of spurning a couple of openings. Indian Airlines took a stranglehold over its match against Tamil Nadu by the half-way mark when it was up by three goals. Four minutes into the second session it was four up and after that the airlines tem eased up a little. Tamil Nadu which had won against Namdhari XI on the opening day of the super league, got in a consolation goal towards the end, through skipper Prabhakaran. Captain Dilip Tirkey put the airlines ahead in the seventh minute, converting a penalty corner and then Dhanraj Pillay found the target before Bimal Lakra scored the third, off another penalty corner. Junior international Hari Prasad completed the airlines tally in the second half. BSF was made to fight by Navy in the other match of the day. Sushil Khajur, off a penalty corner, and Birinder Guria were the BSF marksmen in either half. Navy scored through Rajan Lakra in the 29th minute.
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