Air India, Punjab Police in final

Favourites Air India and Punjab Police will clash in the final of the 100th Aga Khan hockey tournament at the Bombay Gymkhana, in Mumbai, on Saturday.

In thrilling semi-final matches on Friday, Air India beat Oil and Natural Gas Commission 4-1 vie the tie-breaker, after being locked 1-1 at full-time, while Punjab Police pipped Indian Airlines, Delhi, 2-1, with a golden goal by defender Jaskaran Singh in the 13th minute of extra-time.

Bombay Gold Cup champions Air India drew first blood in the 33rd minute when centre-half Ravi Barji scored off defender Tarcius Kulu's push, following the first penalty-corner.

ONGC equalised in the 60th minute when skipper Anurag Raghuvanshi converted their third penalty-corner.

The tie-breaker was resorted to as even 15 minutes' extra-time failed to break the deadlock.

In the tie-breaker, Surinder Kundu, Kishore Kumar and Kulu scored for the winners while the attempts of ONGC's R K Mishra, S Nadeem and Amit Kumar were saved by Air India goalkeeper Edgar Mascarenhas.

In the second semi-final, Punjab Police took the lead in the sixth minute, when centre-half Jasbir Singh sounded the board off defender Balwant Singh pass.

Indian Airlines restored parity with seven minutes to go for the breather when forward Virender Singh found the net off defender Suresh Kumar's pass.

With seven minutes to go for the final whistle, Jaskaran scored the match-winner for ONGC after receiving a pass from Balwant Singh.

Photographs: JEWELLA C MIRANDA

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