Punjab Police hold Air India
to enter semis

Punjab Police snatched a precious point when they held title favourites Air India to a 1-1 draw in a Pool A quarter-final league match to make it to the semi-finals in the 100th Aga Khan hockey tournament at the Bombay Gymkhana in Mumbai on Thursday.

The draw saw the policemen complete their league engagements with six points, one more than Western Railway, who, despite a 5-0 win over Mumbai Customs in an earlier Pool A match, failed to make the last four stage.

Air India, who topped the pool with seven points, shot into the lead in the 19th minute when their centre-half Tushar Khandekar scored after receiving an angular pass from former international Anil Adrin.

However, Punjab Police equalised in the 41st minute through Gurmeet Singh, who slammed home a rebound off the Air India goalkeeper's pads.

Western Railway proved too good for Mumbai Customs. Centre-half Vijay Alponsho drew first blood for them, scoring off a pass from centre-forward Mukhtiar Singh.

Three minutes after the interval, Mukhtiar himself got on the score sheet after finding the net from a pass from Chander Pal.

Defender Gurusewak Singh converted a penalty-stroke in the 42nd minute, after forward Shanta Kumar was obstructed by Customs' defender Ram Bahadur, to make it 3-0.

In the 56th minute, Gurusewak Singh converted Western's fourth penalty-corner, and with just seven minutes to go for the hooter, forward Prem Kumar's solo effort rounded off the tally.

Photographs: JEWELLA C MIRANDA

Earlier reports
Indian Airlines, ONGC in semis
Air India, Punjab Police win
Indian Airlines struggle to beat CRPF