Gurpreet powers BP to 2-1 win over ONGC

Gurgaon, Nov 21 (UNI) A brace from Gurpreet Singh helped Bharat Petroleum to overpower ONGC 2-1 in the group B quarter-final league match of the 45th Nehru Hockey tournament here today.

In the first match of the day, after a barren first half, Gurpreet drew the first blood for BP in the 45th minute through a penalty corner but KH Jayanta scored the equaliser in the 49th minute (PC).

However, it was Gurpreet's another penalty corner in the 58th minute allowed BP to take the lead and his team held on to the lead to emerge winners.

In the other matches of the day, South Central Railways defeated President XI, Bangladesh 5-3 in the group B, while in a group A match, India Colts overwhelmed Punjab and Sind Bank 4-3.

For South Central Railways, Mayur Subbaiah scored a hat-trick firing three goals (16th, 37th, 52nd minute) all through penalty corners and was well supported by Prabhakar Singh (33rd) and Amit Shrivas (57th) who scored a goal each against the Bangladeshi outfit.

For President's XI, Sheikh Md Mannu scored a brace in the 14th and 48th minute, while the third goal came from Rimon Kumar Ghosh (61st) which could onlyy reduce the margin of the defeat.

In the only match of group A today, India Colts held their nerves and defied a strong come back from Punjab Sind Bank after the former was leading 3-1 in the first half.

Jai Karan struck twice in the 22nd and 32nd minute, while Dharamvir Singh (29th) and Diwakar Ram (43rd) scored two crucial goals to India Colts home.

For the losers, Ranjoth Singh (11th), Gurvinder Singh Chandi (39th) and Mandeep Singh (61st) were the goal scorers.

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