AI hold PNB, enter hockey semifinals

Mumbai, October 20 

A last-minute penalty corner conversion by Arjun Sharma helped Air India (AI) hold Punjab National Bank to a 3-3 draw in a Group A match on Saturday and enter the semifinals of the 14th PMC Bank All-India Guru Tegh Bahadur Hockey Tournament.

AI and PNB, along with Central Railway, finished the group stage with five points each. AI and Central Railway advanced to the semis by virtue of better goal difference.

PNB did not waste too much time in forging ahead as Sukhjit Singh, from two swift counter-attacks, scored in the fifth and seventh minutes to give his team a 2-0 lead.

In the second half, AI showed more urgency and managed to cut the lead in the fourth minute after resumption of play when Faraz Mohammad converted from a penalty corner. Abharan Sudev then deflected home a long hit from left for the equaliser in the 44th minute.

Six minutes later, PNB regained the lead when Bhagat Singh sounded the wodden plank, but AI earned a penalty corner in the final minute and Sharma successfully converted it to pilot his team into the last four. — PTI