Bharat Petroleum stun Airlines

Bharat Petroleum scored an upset 2-1 victory over fancied Indian Airlines while Indian Hockey Federation juniors rallied to trounce Bengal XI 6-2 in Friday's league matches in the 79th MCC-Murugappa Gold Cup hockey tournament in Madras.

The star-studded Airlines team, boasting of eight Indian players in their line-up and an attack spearheaded by Olympian Mukesh Kumar, muffed a few good scoring chances. They found themselves in arrears in the 24th minute as Amar Aiyanna scored from a Ravi Nayakar pass.

Bharat Petroleum increased the lead in the 40th minute when international Anurag Raghuvanshi scored from a penalty-corner.

Down by two goals, Airlines managed to strike back through Mukesh Kumar in the 45th minute. The recalled Olympian sounded the boards with a stinging shot.

However, they continued to struggle as neither Mukesh Kumar, Brojen Singh or Altaf Ur Rehman's shots could find the target even as their own goalkeeper, international Subbiah, brought off some good saves, foiling Bharat Petroleum's Sabu Varkey and Anurag Raghuvanshi.

Earlier, twice in arrears, Indian Hockey Federation juniors rallied brilliantly and whipped the Bengal team.

Paulus Soy put Bengal ahead in the fourth minute but Jugraj Singh put the IHF juniors level, scoring from a penalty-corner.

Soy struck again, converting a pass from Edmuna Karketta in the 23rd minute to set the stage for a keen contest.

However, after Bpin Thimmaiah put IHF on level terms again in the 30th minute, it turned out to be a one-sided contest in the second session.

Crossing over, the wily juniors banged home some sparkling goals through Bimal Lakra (51st), Arjun Rawat (62nd), Deepak Thakur (66th) and young left winger Karthik (69th) to gain three full points.

Earlier report:
Railways rout Hyderabad XI Uni