Indian Airlines too good for Air India

The brilliant run of Air India, which saw them lift the Nehru Cup last month, came to a halt when Indian Airlines outplayed them to win 3-0 in the second semi-final of the 12th Lal Bahadur Shastri hockey tournament in Delhi on Saturday.

Indian Airlines will play Punjab and Sind Bank in the final on Sunday. The bankmen defeated Central Industrial Security Force 2-1 in the first semi-final.

The match between Air India and Indian Airlines was expected to showcase some brilliant hockey, and in the end, after a goalless first half, it ended as a lively affair.

Altaf Hussain struck a brace (45th and 54th minutes) and Brojen Singh (57th minute) were the goal scorers for Indian Airlines.

Both AI and IA came into the crunch match with a big win each and the first half saw both the teams assesing each others strength.

Goals eluded both the teams in the first half even though both had a few cracks at the rival ends. IA initiated the first threatening move through the right when captain Mohd Riaz put through to Brojen Singh.

AI straightaway went on the counter-attack forcing IA to save an effort from Devinder Kumar. Five minutes later, IA goal had a close shave when a good shot went inches wide.

The famed AI forwards who were scoring heavily throughout the tournament suddenly found the going tough as the IA defence comprising Len Aiyappa, Sanjay Bisht and Rajnish Mishra throtlled them.