Pune, 28 June, 2023: Railway Police Line Boys edged out a fighting Excellency Academy in a seven-goal thriller, while Hockey Lovers Sports Club fought off Khadki Hockey Academy with a late surge to advance in the Bharat Ratna Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar Hockey Tournament 2023, at the Major Dhyanchand Hockey Stadium, Nehrunagar, Pimpri on Tuesday.
In a battle of evens’ and scores being cancelled constantly, Railway Police Line Boys outsmarted Excellency Academy 4-3. Uday Baramatikar (16th) opened the scoring to give Line Boys the lead. However, Excellency Academy leveled two minutes later via Aayan Shendge (18th) 1-1 to end first half action.
Roshan Musale (33rd) once again put Line Boys ahead after resumption, but Sujal Mamunkar (42nd) levelled scores for the second time for Excellency 2-2. Thereafter a brace of goals by Omkar Musale was the highlight. Omkar (38th) gave Line Boys the lead for the third time, only to have Manjot Randhawa (49th) convert a penalty-corner and make it level at 3-3.
Line Boys struck the winner when Omkar (40th) completed his run with success and ended the ding-dong battle 4-3.
In a match up between two junior division teams, Hockey Lovers Sports Club edged out Khadki Hockey Academy 3-2, with the winner being netted in the last quarter of the match.
Hockey Lovers S.C went one-up through (Shlok Garge 11th) and nine minutes later it was Nizam Shaikh (20th) drawing level for Khadki Hockey Academy. With the first half on evens, Angeer Manthan (35th) found success from a penalty-corner to give Hockey Lovers S.C joy. However, Akshay Bhosale (39th) made it 2-2 for the Khadki side.
Swapnil Garsund (54th) struck the match-winner to ensure Hockey Lovers S.C advance.
The tournament had Nitin Nikalje, former Chikalwadi Young Boys player grace the day as chief guest.
RESULTS
Railway Police Line Boys: 4 (Uday Baramatikar 16th; Roshan Musale – 33rd; Omkar Musale – 38th, 40th) bt Excellency Hockey Academy: 3 (Aayan Shendge 18th; Sujal Mamunkar 42nd; Manjot Randhawa 49th – p.c). HT: 1-1
Hockey Lovers Sports Club: 3 (Shlok Garge 11th; Angeer Manthan 35th – p.c; Swapnil Garsund 54th) bt Khadki Hockey Academy: 2 (Nizam Shaikh 20th – p.c; Akshay Bhosale 39th). HT: 1-1
WEDNESDAY’S FIXTURES
Poona Hockey Academy v Kids XI – 1.30pm; Pune City Police v Central Railway, Pune – 3.30pm
