PSB stun Railways

NEW DELHI, June 28: Border Security Force BSF, Punjab and Sind Bank PSB and Air-India joined Delhi in the semifinals of the 29th Junior...

NEW DELHI, June 28: Border Security Force BSF, Punjab and Sind Bank PSB and Air-India joined Delhi in the semifinals of the 29th Junior National hockey championship at the National Stadium, here today.

BSF and PSB beat their respective opponents after fighting displays. Their fate was decided in the tie-breaker after the regulation and extra-time yielded no result. In the tie-breaker, BSF got the better of Steel Authority of India Limited winning 4-1 while PSB beat Indian Railways 5-3. Air-India clinched victory in regulation time itself, beating Bengal 6-2.

After tomorrow8217;s rest day, action resumes on Monday when defending champions Delhi take on BSF in the first semi-final followed by the Air-India-PSB clash. PSB were the star outfit of the day with their success over fancied Railways who fielded four players who did duty for the senior side that clinched the Nationals in Bangalore early this month.

Railways, as usual, did the early running and Shanta Kumar, Rajeev Misra, Daud Sulaman Kujur, Hasrat Qureshi and Ajinder Pal Singh excelled in attack and defence.

Railways enjoyed the lion8217;s share of the exchanges but PSB matched them in defence as the game progressed.

Railways8217; early aggression paid off, yet again. Daud Sulaman, the star striker opened the scoring in the 15th minute following a speedy, incisive move by Rajiv, Shanta, Ajinder and Qureshi left PSB goalkeeper Bhupinder Singh stunned.

PSB fought back energetically after the break. Sukhwinder Singh and Baljit Singh Chandi8217;s thunderous move saw the latter smashing a fine equaliser in the 39th minute.

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Railways8217; luck changed from this point onward and it showed in a disallowed goal from a penalty-corner hit by Manmeet Singh.

A see-saw battle followed but the scores remained level even after extra-time of 15 minutes.

A tense Railway goalkeeper V Alex David was beaten four times by Preetinder Singh, Gursharanjit Singh, Sarabjit Singh and Sukhwinder Singh in the tie-breaker.

Lazrus Barla and Ajinder Pal Singh gave Railways the initial lead but Navsher Singh and Anwar Khan spoiled their party missing crucial shots.