IndianOil enter Surjit Hockey semi-finals

Jalandhar, Oct 29 (UNI) Last year's runners-up IndianOil stormed into semi-finals of the 24th IndianOil Surjit Hockey Tournament after beating Punjab Police by 4-1 in a Pool C fixture at the Olympian Surjit Hockey Stadium here today.

Meanwhile, in a pool B encounter, Rail Coach Factory of Kapurthala and Punjab State Electricity Board Patiala played a 2-all draw and in junior category, Punjab and Sind Bank Academy eked out a narrow 1-0 win over Chandigarh Administration-run Chandigarh Hockey Academy.

IndianOil and Punjab Police dished out good hockey. Punjab Police's Jugraj Singh kept star forward Pabhjot Singh under check in the first half. In the sixth minute Punjab Police launched an attack from the right flank through speedy Gagan Ajit Singh who was fouled by IndianOil defenders. A penalty corner was awarded to Punjab Police which they wasted.

In the 14th minute, IndianOil forced a penalty corner.

Raghunath's powerful shot was saved by Punjab Police goalkeeper Manpreet Singh. In the 29th minute Deepak Thakur dribbled his way into the stricking before netting the ball (1-0). At half time IndianOil led 1-0.

Five minutes after resumption Olympian Gagan Ajit Singh equalised for Punjab Police with a cracking shot from right flank (1-1). In the 44th minute IndianOil's Raghunath converted a penalty corner (2-1). In the very next minute Punjab Police got a penalty corner but Jugraj Singh failed to capitalise on the chance. In the 66th minute Prabhjot Singh scored the field goal from left flank (3-1).

In the dying minutes of the game Raghunath converted the penalty corner for IndianOil (4-1).

In the Pool B, RCF and PSEB shared one point each from a two-all draw. After wasting penalty corners in 5th and 13th minute RCF's Satinder Pal Singh sounded the board in the 32nd minue. In a counter attack the powermen equalised through Ravinder Singh (1-1).

In the 50th minute, the Railmen took lead when Roop Singh scored from the right flank (2-1). Six minutes later the Powermen restored parity through Hardayal Singh (2-2).

In a Pool B match for juniors, Punjab and Sind Bank Academy edged out Chandigarh Hockey Academy by a solitary goal scored by Ajay Kumar in the 64 th minute. Punjab and Sind Bank Academy earned three points from their first outing.

UNI