IOC edge out Air India to lift Bombay Gold Cup

Star-studded Indian Oil Corporation showed great resilience and fighting spirit to bounce back thrice and put it across formidable Air India 5-3 to lift the 48th Bombay Gold Cup hockey tournament, on Sunday.

Mumbai: Air India 5-3 to lift the 48th Bombay Gold Cup hockey tournament, here on Sunday.

In a well-matched final in which both teams fought tooth and nail, it was current international S V Sunil who struck two field goals in four minutes when the teams were level at 3-all late in the second half to swing the match in IOC`s favour. Arman Qureshi put AI 1-0 up in the 23rd minute which was neutralised by India full back V Raghunath, who converted a penalty corner in the 26th. Prabodh Tirkey sounded the board off a penalty corner to put AI 2-1 ahead in the 33rd minute only to see IOC bounce back again when the ebullient and opportunistic former international Deepak Thakur found the mark in the last minute of the first half and the teams adjourned for the break deadlocked 2-2. AI again raised visions of victory when India discard Shivendra Singh got into the goal scoring act in the 41st but another ex-international Prabjot Singh came to his side`s rescue two minutes later to make it 3-all. Then came the twin strike within a short period of time by the highly impressive Sunil to swing the game IOC`s way. Sunil was duly named the man of the tournament by the Sports Journalists Association of India and received a cheque for Rs 5000 from newly appointed chief national coach Terry Walsh at the end of the tournament.