Mumbai : Indian Navy produced a sleek performance and rose to the occasion to clinch a deserving 4-2 victory against Western Railway in the Super Division final of the MHAL (Mumbai Hockey Association Limited) League – 2016, and played at the MHAL Mahindra Stadium, Churchgate.
The Naval outfit scored through Jugraj Singh (6th minute), Rana Pratap (11th), Kuldeep Singh Jr. (20th) and Ambika Pratap (43rd) while Western Railway got their goals through Manpreet Singh (16th) and Irshad Mirza (19th).
Indian Navy received the Super Division Trophy and a cash award of Rs 1.10 lakhs from MHAL President Mangha Singh Bakshi while MHAL Hon Secretary Ram Singh Rathor presented Western Railway with the runners-up trophy and a cash prize of Rs 70,000. Rana Pratap of Indian Navy was named ‘Player of the final’ and he received a cash award of Rs 3,000.
The fitter and faster sailors mixed aggression with caution to quell the spirited challenge from the railwaymen and emerge triumphant. The Naval outfit did not take too long to assert their dominance and forged ahead when full back Sajit Lakra converted from their first penalty corner in the very sixth minute. Five minutes later Navy once again rocked the ‘Western citadel when Rana Pratap with a peach of an effort scored the second. Following Pawan Rajbir’s long hit Pratap trapped the ball near the 25-yard line before he weaved past two defender and with a rasping drive beat Western custodian.
