Ludhiana, March 21
Defending champions Indian Airlines and Namdhari XI, Bhaini Sahib, came out triumphant without being challenged by their respective opponents in the semifinals of the 4th All India Guru Gobind Singh Gold Cup Hockey Tournament today.

The tournament is being organised jointly by the Ludhiana Sportsmen Welfare Association and the PAU Hockey Club under the patronage of the Punjab Rural Sports Promotion Council at the Prithipal Singh Astro Turf Stadium of Punjab Agricultural University here.

Indian Airlines ousted Air India 7-1, while Namdhari XI outplayed Sikh Regiment XI 6-1 to set up the title clash. The final will be played tomorrow at 4 pm.

In the first semifinals, Namdhari XI surged ahead in the 21st minute through a penalty corner conversion by Gurpreet Singh. They increased the lead in the 42nd minute when Gurpreet converted a penalty stroke to make it 2-0.

In the 56th minute, Sukhjinder Singh scored a fine field goal to enhance the lead (3-0). Swarn Kumar of Sikh Regiment found the target in the 61st minute to reduce the margin. Namdhari XI’s Karamjit Singh scored a hat-trick (65th, 67th and 69th minute) to complete the rout.

In the second semifinals, Air India men failed to match with their superior opponents, Indian Airlines. Arjun Halappa of Indian Airlines put his side ahead in the sixth minute.

Three minutes later Harshpreet of Air India struck to restore the parity.

In the 14th minute, international player Dhanraj Pillay weaved a move, which resulted in a field goal and Indian Airlines went into the lead.

They added four more goals in the first half (Varinder Lakra in the 15th minute, Barla in the 22nd minute, Dilbhag Singh in the 29th minute and Brojan Singh in the 33rd minute) to consolidate the lead 6-1.

In the second session, Indian Airlines pumped in another goal in the 44th minute through Qasim-Ur-Rehman, which sealed Air India XI’s fate 7-1.