Punjabs course correction

Which is not to suggest that Punjab didnt deserve this win.

They have been the team of the tournament by some distance and any other result would have been grossly unfair. However,the very un-Punjab-like approach that they showed in the first half,when they sat back and inviting Air India to attack,went unpunished. While Air India created openings at regular intervals,the resourceful duo of Arjun Halappa and Vikas Pillay in particular Shivendra Singh,Sameer Dad and Joga Singh just couldnt sneak in a goal.

Dhanraj thundered down on his players during the break due to the nil-nil scoreline,while Punjab coach Baljit Singh Saini decided to change the strategy. In the first-half,we opted for a half-court press,but in the second session,we changed it to a full-court press and you could see the difference. We attacked a lot and it made a difference, Saini said.

Indeed,they didnt even let Air India settle down,scoring off the first move after resumption. From the centreline,captain Sarvanjit Singh passed the ball ahead to Satbir Singh. The dynamic Satbir,one the many talented young players in the team,made a dashing run down the right flank before hitting a measured cross to Prabhdeep Singh,who struck a low but powerful shot to beat a diving goalkeeper.

Shaken,Air India hit right back in the 37th minute,with VS Vinayas drag-flick bulging the net off what was the first penalty corner of the match. What followed was thrill-a-minute hockey full of counterattacks. The action shifted ends so frequently that it might as well have been an NBA game. Punjab got five penalty corners,but with bouncy turf at the top of Air Indias circle to contend with,the threat that Gurjinder Singh has posed throughout the tournament was negated.

Air India also got a couple of penalty corners more,one just before the buzzer. But unlike Monday,when he sank Karnataka with a 70th minute strike,Vinaya couldnt come good this time.

And when he did find the target,two minutes into the extra-time,unfortunately it was the wrong one. In these added 15 minutes,whichever team would get the goal,would win the jackpot. Like they did after half-time,Punjab came galloping off the blocks and forced an error out of an AI defender to win a free hit outside the striking circle. Ravipal Singh pushed the ball to Gurbaj Singh on his right,who let fly an almighty strike into the D.

As it took the faintest of deflection off Vinayas stick before smashing into the board,the senior nationals,which saw a few new rules being employed,fittingly ended with an own goal.

Gurjinder best defender

The rate at which Gurjinder Singh is winning awards,he may soon need a bigger trophy cabinet. Or a bigger garage. Punjabs crorepati drag-flicker,who although didnt score today,was adjudged the best defender of the tournament and got a Tata Nano car. Arjun Halappa,who has been inspirational throughout the event,also bagged one as he was voted the best forward. That made it two big prizes for WSH stars,while Hockey India secretary-general Narinder Batra looked on.

The award for the Upcoming Player of the tournament went to Karnatakas MB Aiyappa,who also scored a goal on Wednesday as Karnataka defeated Haryana 2-1 in the third-place playoff match. A little revenge after having lost to the same rivals in last years final.