Players vie for the ball during the senior national semifinal match between Punjab & Sind Bank and Hockey Punjab in Lucknow on Saturday. Punjab & Sind Bank won 1-0.
Tribune News Service
Chandigarh, june 24
City boys went down 1-5 to Railway Sports Promotion Board (RSPB) in the semifinals to bow out of the 7th Senior National Hockey Championship 2017 (Men) ‘A’ Division in Lucknow today.
In the first quarter, devoid of open chances, Gaurav Tokhi gave Hockey Chandigarh the lead by converting a penalty stroke in the 8th minute. The side then defended well to go into halftime with the slender lead.
In the third and fourth quarter though, RSPB came back strongly with goals from Nilakanta Sharma (42nd and 49th minute) and Ajit Kumar Pandey (48th minute).
Forced to fight back, Hockey Chandigarh had to open up their play in the final quarter and Railway Sports Promotion Board exploited the spaces at the back to put them under more pressure; goals from Yuvraj Walmiki (54th minute) and Karanpal Singh (59th minute) helping the side seal a spot in the final.
Punjab & Sind Bank in final
In the second semifinal, Punjab & Sind Bank edged out Hockey Punjab 1-0 after a largely solid performance in a match devoid of goals but not high speed action.
The two teams were among the most-attacking of the tournament and came out charging at each other. Despite the similarity in styles and the speed of play a goal proved elusive.
After three quarters, both teams were locked in a stalemate and the game looked destined for a shootout. However, in the 57th minute, Karamjit Singh scored a decisive goal to put Punjab & Sind Bank on top.
Hockey Chandigarh will face Hockey Punjab in a third place playoff at 3 pm tomorrow, while Punjab & Sind Bank will play Railway Sports Promotion Board for the title at 5 pm. Both matches will be telecast live on DD Sports.
Earlier, city boys had edged out The Mumbai Hockey Association Ltd 4-3 in a charged quarterfinal encounter to book a berth in the last-four stage, while Hockey Punjab blanked Uttar Pradesh 4-0.
Punjab & Sind Bank had overcome Air India Sports Promotion Board 3-2 in the shootout to ensure a place in the semifinals. RSPB got the better of Comptroller & Auditor General of India (3-1) in the quarterfinals.
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