Three former champs in
Nehru hockey semis

Three former champions -- BSF, Punjab Police (both from Jalandhar) and Indian Airlines -- chalked out easy victories to move into the semi-finals of the 39th Senior Nehru hockey tournament in Delhi on Friday.

Border Security Force downed Tamil Nadu xi 4-0, Punjab Police routed Railways 7-3 while Indian Airlines outplayed Bharat Petroleum 4-0 in their Super League matches.

BSF scored two goals in each half to dismiss Tamil Nadu's challenge.

Forward S Khajur scored twice, in the 19th and 31st minutes, before Habil Topno made it 3-0 in the 48th minute and Marious Lakra completed the tally five minutes later.

In the second match of the day, spearheaded by former India captain Baljit Singh Dhillon, who slammed three goals, and Olympian Gagan Ajit Singh (two goals), Punjab Police derailed Railways after taking 3-1 lead at lemon break.

It was Railways who surged ahead the sixth minute through Jagmohan Singh. They managed to hold on to the lead for 14 minutes till Gabbar Singh restored parity for Punjab Police.

Gagan Ajit Singh then scored two quick goals in the 30th and 35th minutes to enable the policemen go into the breather 3-1 up.

Baljit Dhillon made it 4-1 in the 42nd minute.

After conceding a three-goal lead, Railways fought back and scored twice in five minutes to reduce the gap to 3-4.

S Barla scored off a penalty-corner in the 50th minute (2-4) and five minutes later Ragu converted a 'stroke' to further reduce the lead to 3-4.

However, the Punjab cops hit back with vengence and pumped in three more goals to seal the match in their favour.

Jugraj Singh increased the tally to 5-3 in the 57th minute, scoring off a penalty-corner, before Dhillon struck twice, in the 62nd and 67th minutes, to complete the rout.

In the last match of the day, star-studded Indian Airlines set up a comfrtable 3-0 lead over Bharat Petroleum at half-time.

Olympian Sameer Dad put Airlines ahead in the ninth minute as he scored off a penalty-corner. India captain Dilip Tirkey converted a penalty-corner in the 28th minute to increase the tally.

Four minutes before the interval Bimal Lakra made no mistake in converting a 'stroke' to make it 3-0.

A minute before the final whistle, Y S Rawat scored the fourth goal for Airlines.