Mumbai: Defending champions Indian Oil enjoyed a smooth passage to the final as they quashed the aspirations of last year’s runners-up Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited (BPCL) charging to a 7-2 victory in the first semi-final of the 53rd All India Bombay Gold Cup hockey championship 2019, organized by the Mumbai Hockey Association Limited (MHAL) and played at the MHAL-Mahindra Stadium, Churchgate on Tuesday.
They take on, former champions Punjab & Sind Bank (PSB) who snatched a 2-1 win over South Central Railway to set up the summit clash on Wednesday. Bharat Petroleum showed the gumption to fight but could not match their superior opponents and as a results the semi-final contest was reduced to a one-sided affair. Indian Oil drew first blood when Sunil Yadav scored from an indirect drill from their first penalty corner in the sixth minute and a minute later Armaan Qureshi’s feeble attempt slipped through goalkeeper Vikas Dahiya to double the lead.
BPCL fought on gamely and managed to cut the deficit in the second quarter through Darshan Gawkar’s goal in the 28th minute. Indian Oil struck the third through Mohd Rahil on the stroke of half-time to give his team a 3-1 lead at the break. After switching ends, Indian Oil continued in the same vein and scored four more goals to run away to victory. Deepak Thakur hit the target twice (39th & 57th minutes) while Talwinder Singh (38th minute) and Nilam Sanjay Xess (54th minute) completed Indian Oil’s scoring tally. Gawkar scored BPCL’s second goal in the 56th minute.
Punjab & Sind Bank, who had last emerged champions in 2004, scored through Ranjot Singh (11th minute) and Navdeep Singh (51st minute). South Central Railway scored through Sandeep Kumar Singh (59th minute).
HI’s summons
Last year’s runners-up in the ongoing Bombay Gold Cup tournament, Bharat Petroleum, were hit hard Tuesday The four, Sudeep Chirmako, Rabichandra Moiranthem, Shivam Anand and Dinachandra Moiranthem, had guided BPCL into the semis Sunday before they had to leave for Bengaluru for the 21-day national juniors’ fitness and routine camp. They were summoned to the camp, along with Pratap Lakra who was playing for another semi finalist, SCR.
