Surjit Hockey Tournament: Punjab & Sind Bank enter semis, to face Punjab Police
Tribune News Service
Jalandhar, October 29
Punjab National Bank Delhi will clash swords with Indian Railways Delhi and Punjab Police Jalandhar will face Punjab and Sind Bank Delhi in the semifinals of Surjit Hockey Tournament at Katoch AstroTurf Hockey Stadium Jalandhar Cantt tomorrow. In the last league match today, Punjab and Sind Bank Delhi beat BSF Jalandhar 3-0. Semifinals can be watched live on PTC tomorrow.
Semifinals today
Punjab National Bank vs Indian Railways: 2 pm
Punjab Police vs Punjab & Sind Bank Delhi: 3.30 pm
In Pool C match today, the last league match holders Punjab and Sind Bank and Border Security Force played a defensive game. Punjab and Sind Bank wasted three penalty corners whereas the BSF wasted two penalty corners in the first two quarters of the game.
After changing ends in the 40th minute of play, Punjab and Sind Bank’s Gaganpreet Singh converted a penalty corner (1-0). In the 51st minute of play, bank’s Surinder Singh netted the ball from left flank (2-0). In the 55th minute of play, Gaganpreet Singh of Bank converted another penalty corner to complete the tally (3-0). With this win, the bank bagged six points from two matches. Earlier the bank team had beaten Indian Air Force by 4-3.
In the matches so far, the team of Punjab National Bank has emerged as the dark horse. The team could barely manage to reach the semifinals in the 2017 tournament but this time its boys have been playing exceptionally well and have defeated the last time finalists Indian Oil in the league match.
The hockey lovers have been appreciating the much improved fitness level of the team. Sukhjit Singh, who hails from Ropar, has scored a hat-trick in the tournament. The PNB team will be facing Indian Railways in the semis, which was the 2018 champion of the tournament.
