The Hindu : Sport / Hockey : PSB in final

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, May 06, 2005

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Sport - Hockey

PSB in final

Special Correspondent

MUMBAI: Punjab Sind Bank cruised into the Bombay Gold Cup Hockey final, breaking down Indian Hockey Federation Development XI's resistance in the semifinal at the Mahindra stadium on Thursday. The holders, powered by drag flick goals from teenager Vikramjit Singh, won on a 7-2 aggregate after the double-leg semis (5-1 first leg).

Vikramjit, a PSB academy trainee and considered competent enough to be playing alongside seniors, showcased his prowess with two goals, both drag flicks powered past rushers and goalkeeper. Rajwinder Singh put the defending champion ahead with a field goal, IHF juniors struck back through a Jitender Siroha penalty stroke conversion after Bruno Lugno attempt hit a defender's foot.

PSB's fluid offence, slicing through the rival defence despite playing in first gear, earned five penalty corners, giving Vikramjit opportunities to hone his flicking skills. The IHF side thwarted four attempts, then forced three corners in a second-half surge through pleasing passing on the right flank.

IHF was at sea in the first leg, resorting to rough tackling as the free-flowing PSB forwards attacked from all angles. Siroha made his presence felt with a drag flick penalty corner effort, after early goals from Kulwinder and Vikramjit had put the holder on the victory path.

The results (double leg semifinals): Second leg: PSB (Rajwinder Singh, Vikramjit Singh) 2 bt IHF Development XI 1 (Jitender Siroha). First leg: PSB 5 (Vikramjit Singh , Kulwinder Singh 2, Rajwinder Singh, Baljit Singh Chandi) bt IHF Dev. XI 1 (Jitender Siroha).

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