Spirited SAI to take on IOC in Babu hockey final today
LUCKNOW: Sports Authority of India, Lucknow on Friday stormed into the final of the 38th All-India KD Singh ‘Babu’ Men’s Hockey Tournament, scripting a thrilling 2-0 win against Comptroller Auditor General, at the Padamshree Mohd Shaid Stadium. Now on Saturday in final, which starts at 3.30 p.m., SAI take on star-studded Indian Oil Corporation, which outplayed Air India 3-1 in the other semi-final of the day.
Shardanand Tewari (21st) and Uttam Singh (50th) scored for SAI. In the second semi-final, Gurjinder Singh (9th, 63rd) and Talwinder Singh netted for the IOC, whereas Raheel (58th) struck a consolation goal for AI.
It was a story of missed chances for CAG against local outfits SAI as they not only missed a penalty stroke in the second half, but also a crucial penalty corner in the dying minutes. On both the occasions, the hits bounced out after hitting the side bar.
Some poor umpiring marred the SAI’s chances as the victory margin could have been bigger. Minutes before the final hooter, a forward hit from inside the circle and the ball zoomed past the CAG’s custodian after hitting one of the defenders’ stick, but umpire instead of adjudging it a goal, awarded a PC to the SAI allegedly. The difference of fitness between SAI and the CAG proved crucial at the end. The winners were running like a well-oiled machine, whereas the CAG men looked a bit slow as well as unlucky too. Shardanand Tewari struck a penalty corner in the 21st minute, whereas Uttam Singh shot from a close range while pouncing on a speedy hit from Arun Sahani’s stick in the 50th minute.
As expected, IOC started in style with Gurjinder Singh converting a penalty corner in the nine minute (1-0). After a change in the ends in the 58th minute, AI restored parity through Raheel, who also converted a PC (1-all).
But yet another goal also through PC in the 63rd minute by Gurjinder helped IOC take 2-1 lead, before Talwinder Singh converting yet another PC into goal in the 66th minute to complete the formality.
NOW ON SATURDAY IN
FINAL, WHICH STARTS AT 3.30 P.M., SAI TAKE ON STARSTUDDED INDIAN OIL CORPORATION, WHICH OUTPLAYED AIR INDIA 31 IN THE OTHER SEMIFINAL OF THE DAY