Defending champion Indian Railways subdued a youthful Indian Navy 3-1 within the ultimate of the 96th MCC-Murugappa Gold Cup hockey event on the SDAT-Mayor Radhakrishnan Stadium right here on Sunday and accomplished a hat-trick of titles.
After a sedate begin within the pool matches, Railways peaked when it mattered most: within the knockouts.
It was a lesson in recognizing the weak point of the opponent and figuring out a plan and executing it to a T.
Realising that the Navy gamers are wonderful in deflections by means of lengthy and brief passes from the 25-yard, dotted strains and the putting circle, Railways seldom allowed the rival strikers any leeway to unleash their pictures. Such was the effectiveness of the Railways defence.
In all of the 4 quarters, Railways held the higher hand, negating Navy’s counter-attacks with ease.
Eight minutes into the competition, Railways scored by means of Shivam Anand who scooped one to the roof of the online after receiving the go from Gursahibjit Singh from the left. It may have been 2-0 for Railways in direction of the top of first quarter if not for Zameer, being the final man standing behind ‘keeper Sanjay Bhaskar, blocking a shot by Sayyad Niyaz Rahim.
Within minutes, Navy equalised through Aakib Rahim Arif who slotted it home from the top of the circle.
Thereafter, it was Railways’ present all the way in which. Pankaj Rawat transformed a copy-book penalty nook shot within the third quarter and Niyaz Rahim’s fierce hit from the circle within the 57th minute made it past the attain of Navy.
Sunil Kumar Singh, who was the pinnacle coach of Railways for three straight time, was ecstatic. “It’s a huge achievement for us to have a hat-trick in such a big tournament. We improved after each match. We knew the opponent will be depending on the slap shot. We only had to make sure we block it once they enter the 25-yard,” stated Sunil.
Railways acquired Rs. 7 lakh whereas Navy needed to be content material with Rs. 5 lakh.
M. M. Murugappan, chairman, CUMI and Chola MS, gave away the prizes.
The outcome (ultimate): Indian Railways 3 (Shivam Anand 8, Pankaj Rawat 37, Sayyad Niyaz Rahim 57) bt Navy 1 (Aakib Rahim Arif 15).
