Air India win Nehru hockey

In a spirited battle for supremacy, Air India rallied from a goal down to beat Punjab and Sind Bank 3-2 and lift the Nehru-ONGC hockey Cup, at the Shivaji stadium in Delhi, on Wednesday.

The spectators were treated to a feast of four goals by the two seeded teams within the first 16 minutes in what was the best match of the tournament.

It was the bankers who netted the first goal, in the fifth minute, as Sandeep Singh Ghuman, capitalising on a big gap in the rival midfield, dribbled his way into the 25-yard line and drove home, leaving rival custodian Andrian D'Souza stranded.

. But within seconds, even before PSB had ended their celebrations, full back Kishore Kumar found the equaliser for Air India, off a tactful pass from striker Roshan Tete from the left flank.

But the goal-for-goal drama continued as the bankers surged ahead again in the 14th minute, when midfielder Sanjiv Kumar gave a spectacular pass to Harpreet Singh, who slotted in an angular shot past D'Souza.

The pattern of alternative incursions continued, as two minutes later Lakhwinder Singh restored parity for the international carrier and made it 2-2.

The match witnessed heightened attacks and counter-attacks in the post-break period, with both teams making forays into rival area, only to meet with matching stickwork.

The barren half hour ended as Air India captain Cornelius D'Costa utilised the third penalty-corner earned by his team to score what turned out to be the match-winner.

Air India, conscious of their rival's ability to bounce back, fortified their defence and the match, thereafter, was confined to midfield.

The bankers wasted a golden chance to overcome disparity in the 60th minute as Gurmeet Singh failed to trap a perfect pass by Ranjit Singh near the cage with only the 'keeper to beat.

The bankers could not cash in on any of the three penalty-corners they earned in the last ten minutes, with the Air India custodian proving too stubborn.

Earlier in the day, last year's runners-up Bharat Petroleum pipped Railways 4-3 in an exciting contest for the third place.

International Gagan Ajit Singh scored a brace as Bharat Petroleum surged ahead 4-1 by half-time.

Railways put up a spirited fight later but could score only twice again.

Striker Bikramjit Singh scored all three goals for Railways which came through penalty conversions.