Chandigarh, July 19
Army Red trounced Indian Air Force (IAF) 4-0 to clinch the title in the 55th Inter-Services Hockey Championship 2007, which concluded at the Sector 42 hockey stadium, here, today.

All-time favourites, Army Red grabbed the championship trophy for the fifth time in a row, thereby firmly establishing their supremacy.

The final match was a one-sided affair with Army Red dominating the game throughout. They provided no respite to the IAF team, who were mostly seen in a defending mode.

Chittranjan Singh gave Army Red lead by scoring a brilliant goal in the sixth minute. Anil Ekka scored the second goal in the 17th minute. The third goal came in the 26th minute when Sunil Ekka successfully converted a penalty corner. Having established a comfortable 3-0 lead in the first half of the game, Army Red cruised effortlessly in the second half. D. Mahadik enhanced the victory margin to 4-0 by converting another penalty corner in the 56 th minute of the game.

Earlier in the day, the Army Green and Indian Navy teams slogged it out for the third and fourth spot with Army Green getting the better of Indian Navy beating them 2-1.

A total of four teams participated in the championship. Apart from the Indian Air Force and Indian Navy teams, the Indian Army fielded two teams, namely Army Red and Army Green.

The championship was aimed at selecting a hockey team for the services, which would subsequently participate in the national games and other championships. Being conducted by 3 Base Repair Depot (3 BRD), Chandigarh, on behalf of the Air Force Sports Control Board under the aegis of the Services Sports Control Board, the championship is being held as per the rules laid down by the International Hockey Federation and as adopted by the Indian Hockey Federation.

Lt Gen Daljeet, GOC-in-C, Western Command, presented the trophy to the winning team. He also presented medals and certificates to the players of both teams. Lt Gen A.N. Aul, Chief of Staff, headquarters, Western Command, and Air Commodore, R.K. Srivastava, AOC, 3 BRD (Base Repair Depot), Air Force, were present. A cultural programme marked the closing ceremony of the championship wherein students of schools of 3 BRD, Air Force, gave colourful performances.

Chandigarh, July 19
A deadly spell by Bhushan Dhiman (5 for 17) helped the Vivek High Asian Cricket Academy to beat the Youth Club Yamunanagar by six runs in the semi-final match of the Fifth Amarnath Bakshi Memorial Cricket Cup 2007. The tournament is being played at Yamunanagar.

The Vivek academy won the toss and elected to bat. They scored 167 runs for eight wickets in the allotted 30 overs. Sanjeev Sharma scored a half century (53 runs) while Vikram Verma scored 31 runs and Ravinder Singh remained unbeaten at 22 runs. On the other side, Sushil claimed four wickets at the cost of 21 runs while Savpreet took three wickets, conceding 19 runs. In a reply, the Youth Club got all out at 161 runs in 26.2 overs. Bhushan and Sutixen proved to be wreckers for them. Bhushan took five wickets while Sutixen claimed three. Bhushan Dhiman was declared man of the match.

Brief scores

Vivek High Asian Cricket Academy: 167 for 8 in 30 overs (Sanjeev Sharma 53, Vikram Verma 31, Ravinder Singh 22 n o, Sushil Kumar 4 for 21, Savpreet Singh 3 for 19).

Youth Club Yamunanagar: 161 all out in 26.2 overs (Bhushan Dhiman 5 for 17, Sutixen Mehta 3 for 27). 

Chandigarh, July 19
The trials to select the Chandigarh cricket team will be held at Government Senior Secondary School, Sector 19, here on July 20 at 3 pm.

The selected team would participate in the Haryana State Inter-District Pataudi Trophy, informed Surinder Singh Baijee, general secretary, Chandigarh Cricket Association, which is affiliated to the Haryana Cricket Association. — TNS

Mohali, July 19
Trials to select the Punjab state senior, junior, sub-junior and pee-wee group tae kwon do teams have been scheduled to be held at Guru Nanak VBT Polytechnic, C-4, Industrial Area, Phase 1, here, on July 22 at 8.30 am.

General secretary and technical director of the Punjab Tae Kwon Do Association said the selected players would participate in the 25th National Tae Kwon Do Championship to be held at Lucknow from August 2 to 4.

Meanwhile, the Fifth National Muye Tae Kwon Do Championship and national referee seminar would also be conducted during this period.