Punjab cops win Itigi hockey

Punjab Police defeated Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited 6-5 via sudden-death in the final to win the inaugural Sri Raghavendra Itigi memorial hockey tournament, for the U & I Champions trophy, in Bangalore, on Monday.

After the two sides were locked goalless at the end of the stipulated time, the tie-breaker was resorted to, but it also ended in a 4-4 deadlock.

Daljeet Singh, Baljeet Singh Sr, Kamal Preeth Singh and Parbhdeep Singh scored for Punjab Police from the 'spot' while Tejveer Singh failed in his attempt.

For BPCL, M K Prakash, Ravi Naiker, A Raghuvamshi and Amar Aiyamma found the target, while Bipin Fernandez's shot was stopped by the goalkeeper.

In the sudden death, Baljeet Singh Sr. and Daljeet Singh fired home for the [policemen. For BPCL, Prakash was bang on target, but Bipin Fernandez failed.

Punjab Police took the winner's cheque of Rs 200,000 in the Rs one million prize-money Grade I tournament, while BPCL pocketed Rs 100,000.

The policemen's move to replace goalkeeper Manpreet Singh with Baljeet Singh in the tie-breaker and sudden death paid off.