The Hindu : Sport / Hockey : Bharat Petroleum tops pool

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Friday, Mar 03, 2006

Sport

Sport - Hockey

Bharat Petroleum tops pool

Sports Reporter

NEW DELHI: Bharat Petroleum scored a tactical 2-1 win against Indian Oil to top the super league Pool I with seven points in the Maharaja Ranjit Singh hockey tournament at the Shivaji Stadium here on Thursday. Both teams, however, made it to the semifinals as Army XI ended with four points, two behind second placed Indian Oil.

Centre-forward Amar Aiyamma blasted in the winner in the 46th minute as Bharat Petroleum avoided a semifinal clash against tournament favourite Indian Airlines. In a clash between two oil majors, the expected sparks were missing. Aiyamma's strike off Prabhdeep Singh's move from the centre was probably the best of the day.

Up against undefeated Indian Oil, Bharat Petroleum needed an early breakthrough. That came through drag-flick expert Len Aiyappa, who converted the lone penalty corner of the match in the 12th minute. Indian Oil shot back immediately when Prabhjot Singh rushed up from the centre and took a hit from the top of the circle. The ball seemingly licked Kamlesh Kumar's stick but the goal was awarded to Prabhjot.

After Aiyamma's goal, Indian Oil made a few moves but failed to finish. Kamlesh and Bharat Chingaria's 50th minute tandem was at best the only good chance Indian Oil had to equalise, but captain Inderjit Chaddha dived full stretch and still failed to connect a set-piece cross.

Earlier in the day, Army XI beat Air-India 2-0 in a match of only academic interest. Tomba Singh (4th minute) and C.S. Xalxo (49th) were the scorers.

Golf tournament

The Order of Merit leader Mukesh Kumar will lead top 20 pros at the 11th Business Today Pro-Am of Champions' golf tournament to be played at the Classic Golf Resort in Gurgaon on Saturday and Sunday. The two-day event will culminate in a finale on Sunday wherein winners of regional events held at Kolkata, Bangalore and Mumbai get together for the grand prize.

The 20 pros will team up with 100 top corporate golfers in the tournament, to be played on stableford format. The tournament offers Rs. 5 lakhs guarantee money to the professionals and an equal amount is up for grab as prize money.

Kohinoor Cup cricket tournament

Roshanara Club will take on Reliance Infocomm in the opening match of the Kohinoor Cup cricket tournament at the club ground here on Saturday. Eight teams will participate in the tournament, which will be played on a league-cum-knockout basis.

Apollo Tyres, Citi Financial, ICICI Bank, Prasar Bharti, Satnam Overseas and Xansa are the other teams in fray.

Samir on song

Samir Suhag pumped in five goals, while Satinder Garcha came up with four as Porsche defeated Lancers 13-10 in a league match of the Royal Gems and Arts Northern India Open 20-goal polo championship at the Jaipur Polo ground here on Thursday.

Angad Kalaan scored one goal before an injury forced him to retire. Vieri Antonori replaced Kalaan and scored two goals. Gerardo Mazzini was the other scorer. Lancers started with six goals on handicap and added four through Maj. Tarun Sirohi (2) and Capt. Ravi Rathore (2).

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