Air India win Aga Khan hockey

Favourites Air India added another feather to their cap, winning the Aga Khan hockey title on Saturday.

In the final of the 100th edition of the tournament, at the Bombay Gymkhana, in Mumbai, the Bombay Gold Cup champions, beat Punjab Police 2-1 to emerge tops yet again.

The teams were involved in a 1-1 draw in the quarter-final leage earlier in the tournament.

Air India stunned the policemen with two quick goals in the first eight minutes, and the cops never recovered from those blows.

The airmen took the lead in the seventh minute when forward Roshan Tete scored following Anil Adrin's free hit from top of the circle. He latched on to a pass from Tushar Khandekar to find the mark.

In the very next minute, centre-forward Devinder Kumar increased the lead. After working his way into the cricle from a one-two passing bout with Kishore Kumar, he despatched a crisp shot which brooked no reply from the Punjab Police goalkeeper.

In the 27th minute, Punjab Police pulled back after forcing a penalty-corner. Defender Jaskharan Singh was bang on target, though the ball deflected off Air India defender Madan Vishwanath's stick and entered the goal.

But that was as far as the policemen could get. Had the airmen been a wee bit accurate with their finishing they could have emerged victors by as bigger margin. Both Devinder Kumar and Kishore Kumar were guilty of missing gilt-edged opportunities.

Air India's defence also deserves credit for the manner in which they bottled up the Punjab Police forwards in the second half, not allowing them any room to manoeuvre.

Earlier, in the match for third place, Indian Airlines beat Oil and Natural Gas commission 4-2.

Slide show on the final

Photograph: JEWELLA C MIRANDA

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