UP boys retain trophy

Defending champions Uttar Pradesh defeated last year’s runners-up Cheema Academy by 2-1 in the final to retain the winner’s trophy of the Balrampur Chini All India KD Singh ‘Babu’ Hockey Tournament which came to a close at Lucknow on February 2— the birth anniversary of hockey great KD Singh ‘Babu’.

The final was a keenly-contested affair. Dodging defenders intelligently,UP player Dilip Kumar Pal capitalised on a penalty-corner provided to the team in 4th minute of the play to impart a 1-0 lead to the team. Forward Dharmender made full use of a pass from the left to consolidate the lead in the 28th minute. However,Inder Jeet Singh of Cheema Academy succeeding in bringing down the margin to 2-1 through a penalty-corner awarded to his team in the 42nd minute. Thereafter,no more goals could be scored and UP emerged winners in the all-important encounter of the tournament. In the match played to decide the third place,Bhiwani (Haryana) beat Tamil Nadu 5-4 through tie-breaker. Earlier,the score at the end of the regular time-period was tied at 1-1.

The prize distribution function was held later in the day. Kunwar Fateh Bahadur (IAS) gave away the prizes to the winners. Winners Uttar Pradesh become richer by Rs 25,000 while the runners-up Cheema Academy were awarded a sum of Rs 20,000. Third place holders Bhiwani got Rs 15,000 as prize money. A sum of Rs 2000 and a trophy was given by secretary general UP Olympic Association (UPOA) Anandeshwar Pandey to Dilip Kumar Pal of Uttar Pradesh who was adjudged ‘Player-of-the-Tournament’. The ‘Gyan Singh Fairplay Trophy’ went to the Tamil Nadu team. Guru Sahib Jit Singh of Cheema Academy and Anil of Bhiwani team were awarded a prize money of Rs 1000 each for emerging ‘Eldeco player of the match’ in their team’s respective matches played on Tuesday.