BPCL hits CAG for a six to defend Gold Cup title

                              

Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited (BPCL) picked up three out of five individual awards at the Dabang Mumbai-50th Bombay Gold Cup Hockey Championships.

SV Sunil was named the Best Player of Tournament, Birender Lakra was Best Defender and Amir Khan was pronounced BestForward.

Collectively, the defending champions were at a different level compared to an overawed Comptroller & Auditor General (CAG) outfit, winning the title clash 6-1 at Mahindra stadium on Wednesday.

CAG, qualifying for the first final at this All-India event, were not given the ball to mount any challenge on the BPCL goal, running miles on the turf as the yellow shirts combined in triangular passing bouts before a stunning long hit found the teammate on the flank.

Early charge

Jarnail Singh set the mood for a night out under the floodlights with a pass for Sunil to score with a crisp hit. Manpreet Singh feinted his way in from the right and beat Harjit Singh in goal with a electrifying reverse hit.

The challengers kept chasing the ball till the end, rival captain Birender Lakra masterminded the BPCL defence with ease, allowing midfielders time to keep forwards on the move.

Jarnail got his name on the score sheet, deflecting in a swift pass from Amir (3-0). Amidst the constant pressure, defender Chandan Singh tried to organise the rearguard but a temporary suspension to teammate Dhyan Singh meant his outnumbered side were left trying to stem the tide.

Gurpreet Singh did not need to bring his drag flicks into play, like the semifinal against IOC a day earlier. The BPCL penalty corner specialist found a drag-flick topped by Chandan on the goalline.

No stopping’em

The second half saw the champion firing in three more goals from Amir, Somanna Pradhan and Ravi Pal, before Abhishek Singh got it right for the challenger, firing home in style with a first-time trap and angular drive past Swinder Singh.

Last year the Gold Cup final resulted in the match stretching into sudden-death, BPCL and IOC level in full-time and penalty strokes. This time, the champion won with ease against an overawed opposition. Tushar Khandekar, chosen Best Player in 2014, did not have to exert himself though kept control over the proceedings as player-cum-coach. Khandekar kept a close watch on the game, from on and off the field.

The trophies were given away by former India captains Dhanraj Pillay and Viren Rasquinha. The champions earned Rs 3,00,000 and runner-up got Rs 1,50,000.

FINAL SCORE: BPCL 6 (SV Sunil, Manpreet Singh, Jarnail Singh, Amir Khan, Somanna Pradhan, Ravi Pal) bt CAG 1 (Abhishek Singh).