CAG JOIN RAILWAYS IN LAST FOUR COURTESY NIBIN KUJUR

60TH DIAMOND JUBILEE SNBP-NEHRU SENIOR HOCKEY TOURNAMENT AT SHIVAJI STADIUM, NEW DELHI

Khel Today Bureau

New Delhi: Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) joined Railways Sports Promotion Board (RSPB) in the semi-finals of the 60th SNBP-NEHRU Hockey Tournament with a convincing 7-3 win at Shivaji Stadium in Wednesday. .

Railmen already assured of the last four berth scored their third successive victory overcoming a tough Army XI challenge 4-2. Army missed chances when the score was 3-2. Railways were in total command in the last session but for Gurpreet Singh under the Army bar foiling Pradeep and skipper Niyaz Rahim.

Railways had earlier posted victories against CAG (5-3) and CBDT (9-1).

CBDT minus their star player Jarmanpreet Singh and two others, after their abject surrender to Railways day before, played much better hockey today. They took lead early on through Vikas Chaudhary. They were 2-2 half way through second session before caving in to late CAG pressure. Hero of the CAG win was Nabin Kujur who converted three of the five penalty corners he took.

Deepak Malik (2), Surya M N and Bharath Mahaalingappa were the other contributors to the CAG tally. Pranam Gowda and Samir Khan scored for CBDT after Vikas had drawn the first blood. Five of the goals came through penalty corners.

Railways and Army matched each other move by move and were 1-1 after 13 minutes with goals from railman Pratap Lakra and Armyman Sumeet Pal. This was before a fine brace by Gursahibjit Singh had Railways leading 3-1 at half time.

Army after sustained pressure brought life to the match when Cyril Lugun scored in a penalty corner rebound. Missing quite a few chances and weathering some serious attempts at their goal by Army, substitute Pankaj sealed the match’s fate in favour of Railways connecting a brilliant move by Pradeep Singh.