Indian Airlines beats Bharat Petroleum 1-0 to lift Ranjit title

New Delhi, Mar 5 (UNI) Sameer Dad's 18th minuite reverse shot crashed into the cage as Indian Airlines pipped Bharata Petroleum 1-0 to lift the second All India Maharaja Ranjit Singh hockey title here today.

In a pulsating game featuring a number of intrenatoionals, Sameer Dad scored the lone goal of the match with a reverse shot after fed from the right side of the D and that turned out to be the winner.

Both the teams tested each other before launching attack and counter attack and poor finishing by the forwards did Bharat Petroleum in.

Indian Airlines goalkeeper Jagdish Ponappa stood like a rock under the bar and frustrated Len Aiyappa and Amar Aiyamma on a number of occasions.

Bharat Petroleum managed only one penulty corner in the 55th minute but Aiyappa was crammed for room and he could not have a proper go at the Indian Airlines goal.

Indian Airlines were hardly better as they mugged up three penulty corners on the 10th, 47th and 48th minutes.

Brojen Singh's foul play forced the referee to flash the yellow card and Indian Airlines were one player less for about five minutes towards the end.

Veteran Dhanraj Pyllay sent a defence splitting pass to Gurwinder Singh but the latter proved goal shy and squandered a golden opportunity in the 66th minute.

Bharat Petroleum went all out seeking the equaliser but poor finishing by the forwards let them down.

The winners received Rs one lakh while the runners up team got 50,000. Gurbaaz Singh was adjugded Man of the Match while Army XI got the fair play trophy.

UNI AY SC RK1830