Sandeep drives AI to Guru Tegh Bahadur Gold Cup hockey title
22nd September 2008
Drag-flicker Sandeep Singh scored four goals, including a second-half hat-trick, powering Air India to a spectacular 5-4 victory over star-studded Indian Oil Corporation (IOC) in the final of the 8th Guru Tegh Bahadur Gold Cup hockey tournament on Monday.
Sandeep came to AI's rescue in a stunning fashion in the latter half after his team trailed IOC 2-4 at half time by converting penalty corners in the last 20 minutes of the fast-paced title-contest at the Mahindra Stadium.
Sandeep kept AI afloat by finding the mark in 19th minute of the match to narrow IOC's lead to 3-2 in a pulsating first 20 minutes' play of the all-Delhi contest.
IOC's drag-flicker B Raghunath fired in two goals within the first ten minutes of the game to put his side 2-0 in front, before Bharat Chinkara increased the margin with a field goal in 11th minute.
Speedy frontliner Shivendra Singh helped AI's fight-back by scoring a field goal in the 16th minute before Sandeep Singh's first of four goals reduced the IOC's lead further.
But Hamza Mujtaba's field effort in the 33rd minute gave IOC the upper hand when the teams crossed over before Sandeep found the purple patch to pilot AI to the title and the top prize of Rs 1.5 lakh.
IOC received Rs 75,000 for finishing runners-up in the tournament, which has been revived after several years by the Mumbai Hockey Association.