The Hindu : Sport / Hockey : BP, Namdhari XI in last four

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Thursday, Nov 23, 2006
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BP, Namdhari XI in last four

NEW DELHI: Bharat Petroleum bounced back from a deficit to pip Punjab and Sind Bank 2-1 in the quarterfinals of the 43rd Nehru hockey tournament at the Shivaji Stadium here on Wednesday.

Even as the Petroleum team's defenders were arguing with umpire Vir Bahadur Singh after an abortive attempt at the team's first penalty corner, Punjab and Sind Bank struck a goal.

Davinder Singh hit from the right flank to catch an unmarked Rajwinder Singh in front of the goal and the latter deflected the shot in a flash past a hapless goalkeeper Kutappa.

The bank team's joy was short lived as Amar Aiyamma jumped on a rebound to clinch the equaliser midway through the first half.

On resumption, Bharat Petroleum maintained its attacking mode with Sabu Varkey catching the eye.

After three penalty corners had failed to fructify, Pundalik Bellary cracked one from just inside the semi-circle to sound the board.

In the other quarterfinal, Namdhari XI also bounced back after conceding an early goal to outplay Karnataka XI 3-1.

Dinesh put the Karnataka team in the lead in the 21st minute, and the team was able to hang on to the lead till the 53rd minute.

Namdhari XI swung the match around by pumping in three goals in 15 minutes.

Gurpreet Singh struck twice — first off the team's second penalty corner with a low drag to the right of the goalkeeper, and another to convert a penalty stroke.

In between, Anmolak Singh made a fine solo and tapped the ball from an acute angle on the left past an onrushing goalkeeper Alwin Felix. — Special Correspondent

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