AI, Bharat Petroleum score
easy victories

Air India and Bharat Petroleum outclassed their opponents to enter the semi-finals in the 19th Surjit Singh hockey tournament in Jalandhar on Wednesday.

Defending champions Punjab and Sind Bank suffered an embarassing 2-4 defeat at the hands of Air India, but still made it to the last-four stage by virtue of a better goal difference over Border Security Force.

In the last round of the league stage, Bharat Petroleum (BP) defeated Punjab and Sind Bank Academy 4-2.

In the women's knock-out round, Punjab XI edged out Rail Coach Factory by a solitary goal.

Bharat Petroleum took an early lead in fourth minute when Saurab Bishnoi converted a penalty-corner. An excellent field goal from S S Gill in the 24th minute made it 2-0.

They increased their lead in the second half, with K T Mohan scoring in the 47th minute.

PSB Academy hit back through Rajwinder Singh and Harpreet, who reduced the margin by two goals in the space of four minmutes, but BP delivered the killer punch in the 63rd minute, when Gill scored from the left flank.

Air India took the lead in the 11th minute when Davinder Kumar scored a field goal, which was followed by Rashan Tete's goal in 18th minute (2-0). In the 33rd minute international Sandeep Micheal scored an excellent field goal from the right flank to make the scoreline 3-0.

After the change of side, PSB's Mandip Singh reduced the margin, when he successfully converted a penalty-corner in the 40th minute (1-3).

Air India made it 4-1 through Davinder Kumar in the 58th minute before Mandip could score again in the 61st minute and reduce the margin further for the defending champions.