Punjab win Nat Games football gold

Hosts Punjab won the men's football gold at the 31st National Games after beating Goa by a solitary goal in the final in Ludhiana on Friday.

Medio Hardeep Singh Gill saved the day for the hosts with a brilliant effort in the 21st minute of the opening session to seal the fate of Goa in a fast paced encounter at the floodlit Guru Nanak Dev stadium.

The goal was the result of a fast counter attack which saw Hardeep unleash a crisp left-footer from inside the box after Sukhjeet Singh had broken through the defence with deft footwork.

The hosts began with a flourish as they launched a series of attacks from both the flanks to put pressure on the Goans, who seemed a trifle subdued in the opening session.

Punjab, boasting of three internationals in the form of Hardeep Gill, Arvind Kumar and Hardeep Saini, got an opportunity to forge ahead midway through the opening session but Harcharanjeet failed to control the ball inside the box with none of the defenders in position.

The hosts, using both their flanks to good effect, enjoyed territorial advantage in the opening session though their opponents did manage to come dangerously close to the rival goalmouth on a few occasions.