Air India eliminate PSB

Surprisingly, Punjab and Sind Bank took the lead against Air India when Bhupinder Suingh (Senior) converted the team’s first penalty corner in the 11th minute. But thereafter, PSB were at the receiving end.

Air India drew parity in the 18th minute through a goal by Rajesh Chauhan, who also converted his team’s second panelty corner.

Air India went ahead shortly before the interval, Gagan Ajit Singh scoring the goal. Air India forced as many as six penalty corners in the first half itself while PSB had three.

After change of ends, Air India continued to dominate the proceedings. They increased the lead further when Gagan Ajit Singh scored his second and the team’s third goal in the 41st minute.

PSB tried hard to match their opponents and forced three wuick penalty corners but failed to convert any one of them. However, they managed to reduce the margin in the 63rd minute when Sandeep Singh (Junior) scored a goal.

CRPF dominated their match against BSF and went 2-0 ahead in the first half. V Hemrum put the team ahead in the 13th minute and then Mukesh Kumar added a goal in the 22nd minute to further increase the lead through a penalty corner conversion.

BSF, who failed to cash in on the five penalty corners they earned in the first half, however, managed to reduce the margin in the 41st minute when Sushil Kumar converted a penalty stroke awarded to the team.

But their joy was short-lived. CRPF pumped in two more goals in the space of 10 minutes to put the issue beyond BSF’s reach. Tanveer jamal and Rabindro Singh scored a goal each in the 46th and 55th minutes, respectively.

The two semi-finals are slated for Monday.