Chd and Lkw, Surjit and PNB to clash in Challenge Cup semis

Chandigarh, Oct 20 (UNI) Pool A winners Surajit Hockey Academy will meet Pool C leaders Punjab and Sind Bank, both of Jalandhar, in the first semi-final match tomorrow in the first Administrator's Challenge Cup Hockey Tournament for Under-17 being organised Chandigarh Sports Department at the Sector 42 Hockey Stadium here.

Pool B winners and hosts Chandigarh Hockey Academy are pitted against Pool D champions Lucknow Hockey Academy in the second semi-final also to be played tomorrow.

Punjab and Sind Bank today qualified for the semi-final with an all-win record as they defeated Chandigarh Administration-run Sector 42 Coaching Centre by 5-1 in the Pool C encounter. It was PSB's third successive triumph from as many matches.

Out of six penalty corners awarded to them, Punjab and Sind Bank could convert only two through Amandeep Singh in the 12th minute and Gagandeep Singh in the 32nd minute.

The remaining three were field goals as Punjab and Sind Bank dominated the game throughout the match.

Ramandeep Singh (20th), Manjinder Singh (46th) and Gaurav Singh Rana (51st) scored one field goal each to swell the winners' tally.

Sector 42 Coaching Centre were awarded two penalty corners which they muffed. They also earned a penalty stroke in the 39th minute which Ashish Kumar converted with ease to reduce the margin.

Coaching Centre finished their league with one draw and two defeats.

In another Pool C match, Punjab National Bank of Delhi got full points as they beat Mehta Gurukul Hockey Academy of Doraha by 3-2.

Vinay Shankar Shukla converted a penalty corner in the 19th minute to give PNB the lead.

The Doraha academy hit back and neutralised the lead in the 237th minute through Harminder Singh. Then Ramanvir scored a field goal to help Mehta Gurukul Academy take lead in the 38th minute.

The PNB boys waged a do-or-die battle and scored two goals in 10 minutes. First Amarbir Singh found the target in the 54th minute to restore parity and Siddharath Shankar snatched the match-winner for Doraha Academy by scoring a field goal int he 64th minute.

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