Indian Oil, ONGC, Air India start on winning note

New Delhi, Oct 20 (UNI) Star studded Indian Oil opened their campaign in style as they thrashed CRPF 7-1 in the qualifier (associate members) for the National Hockey Championship here today.

In other matches, ONGC overpowered erratic SAI 3-0 and Air India defeated Border Security Force 3-1.

Defending champions Punjab and Sind Bank earned three points without having to sweat it out on the field as they got a walk over from Customs.

Runners-up Indian Oil, with several Olympians and Internationals in their ranks, captalised on the chances that came their way to put it across Central Reserve police Force (CRPF).

For the Oilmen, who led 4-0 at the breather, the goal getters were Sardar Singh (1st, 30th), Bikramjit Singh (8th, 13th), Roshan Minz (17th), Prabhjot Singh (51st) and Deepak Thakur (67th). Jolan Topno was the lone scorer for CRPF, finding the target in the 60th minute.

Indian Oil earned two penalty corners and both were converted by Bikramjit Singh while CRPF muffed six penalty corners they earned.

Len Ayyapa scored a brace, converting two of the four penalty corners Air India earned to enable his side overpower BSF.

Ayyapa scored in the eighth and 43rd minutes while Roshan Tete chipped in with a goal in the 33rd minute. For BSF, who earned five penalty corners, Habil Topno reduced the margin converting a penalty corner in the 39th minute.

ONGC led 1-0 at half time against SAI with Amarjeet Pratap scoring the goal in the 16th minute.

Arshad Ahmad made it 2-0 and Rajdeep Singh completed the tally for the winners in 69th minute.

SAI earned as many as 12 penalty corners but failed to convert any of them while ONGC muffed one penalty corner that came their way.

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