Indian Oil, Punjab and Sind Bank set up title clash

:Indian Oil, Mumbai, and Punjab and Sind Bank, Delhi, entered the final of the 36th Indian Oil Servo Surjit Hockey Tournament at Olympian Surjit Hockey Stadium on Saturday.

In the first semi-finals, Punjab and Sind Bank beat holders Army XI 5-4 via penalty shootout in a hard-fought match.

At the end of stipulated time both teams were levelled at 1-1.

In the second semi-finals, Indian Oil beat Punjab Police 4-2. Today’s chief guest MP Santokh Singh announced grant of ~10 lakh for the Surjit Hockey Society.

In the first semi-finals, Punjab and Sind Bank took the lead in the sixth minute of the match when International Gaganpreet Singh converted the penalty corner (1-0).

At half time Bankmen were leading 1-0.

After lemon break in the 31st minute Army’s Rahul Rathee equalised from the lovely pass of Jitender Rathee (1-1).

In the 33rd minute Punjab and Sind Bank earned a penalty stroke but their captain Santa Singh was not able to utilize it.

At the end of stipulated time both teams were locked at 1-1.

In the penalty shootout Gaganpreet Singh, Harmanjit Singh, Jaskaran Singh and Santa Singh converted for the winners.

For ArmyXI, Rajant Rajput, Sanjay Toppo and Rahul Rathee could only score.

In the second semi-finals, Indian Oil took lead in the seventh minute when Gurjinder Singh converted the penalty corner (1-0).

In the 15th minute Punjab Police equalised through Olympian Gurvinder Singh Chandi (1-1).

In the second quarter’s 17th minute Indian Oil’s Manpreet Singh netted the ball from right flank to hand his team lead again. At half-time Indian Oil were leading 2-1. In the 41st minute Punjab Police equalised again with a field goal scored by Pawandeep Singh.

Indian Oil then scored two goals Gurjinder Singh (53rd minute) and Roshan Minj (56th minute) to win the match.