UP boys clinch Gold Cup

But they will rue the loss for quite some time as they have to blame themselves for messing up a golden chance. They were superior in most aspects of the game and someone like Gurjab Singh, the centre-forward, who was capable of piercing the rival defence with utmost ease. UP, on the other hand, grabbed their chances well and had the courage the withstand some aggressive onslaught by Punjab in the later stages of the game. Keeping the pressure on Punjab all the time, they made the victory look rather easy, though it was not the case.

Punjab should have been up 2-0 by the fifth minute but Balbir’s effort was saved on the goalline by defender Rishi Kumar. Immediately after that Jatinder wasted a good pass from left by Balbir. But unmindful of all these, UP went on to take the lead in the eighth minute when Mohammed Hanif shot from outside the circle but the ball deflected into the goal off a defender’s stick.

Punjab equalised in the 22nd minute off their first penalty corner when Jarnail Singh’s first-timer went in off goalkeeper Tair Ali Khan. Three minutes later, Jagdesh Yadav used the melee to put UP in lead again. The centre-forward again struck in the 27th minute as he trapped a long ball and slipped in between the legs of Khan.

Five minutes after change of ends, a one-two between Hanif and Yadav enabled the former consolidate further. But on a counter, Punjab earned their third penalty corner in the 50th minute and Jarnail was once again at task to cnvert it. In between UP’s Shams Alam put in a good effort to glide the Prem Kumar cross from left but goalkeeper Mandeep Singh came in the way. But Punjab made it 3-4 in the 54th minute when Gurbaj beat advancing Khan with a fine scooping, even as a UP defender put his stick in way.

Meanwhile, following are the 11 boys who were chosen for a special incentive of Rs. 1,000 each.

They are: Jarnail Singh, Jintender Singh and Gurbaj Singh (all Punjab), Rajesh Kumar, Santosh Kumar and Mohd. Hanif (all UP `B’), Anthony Hemram (Orissa), Smarjit Sing, Sachi Kanta and R.K. Jasobanta (all Manipur) and Pfokrelo (Nagaland).

22 shortlisted: The four-member selection committee, headed by Ajitpal Singh, shortlisted 22 players at the end of Independence Gold Cup Hockey Tournament here, for a special assessment camp to be conducted by the Sports Authority of India. The boys will be then inducted to various SAI hostels on the basis of their skills with SAI taking care of their needs, including education.

The other members of the committee were Harbinder Singh, Zafar Iqbal, and Rajinder Singh.

Forwards: Mazhar Mamel (UP), Inderpal Singh, Balbir Singh (Pun), Shams Alam (UP `B’), Ramandeep Singh (Har), Jagdesh Yadav (UP `B’), Dheeraj Sharma (Har).
Halfbacks: Nitish Kumar (UP `A’), Thejakarienya (Naga), Rajwinder Singh (Pun), Manbir Singh (Pun), Ajaya Ekka (Oris), Mandeep Singh (Punj), Marcus Tirkey (Ori), Harish Preet (Har), Prem kumar (UP).
Defenders: Bikram Jeet (Har), Jagan Jothi (TN), Harbinder Singh (Pun).
GKs: Taif Ali Khan (UP `B’), Sapna Sharma (Har), Bikash Topno (Orissa).