Punjab thrash Chhattisgarh 8-0 in National Hockey

Jalandhar, Oct 20 (UNI) A spectacular hat-trick by drag flicker Jugraj Singh enabled hosts Punjab to begin its campaign in the 62nd National Hockey Championship with a superb 8-0 win against Chhattisgarh.

The star studded host team playing with one Olympian and three international stars exhibited good team work and dominated in the match from the start.

Drag flick expert Jugraj also showed good form and posted three goals with accurate conversion of penalty corners.

Besides Jugraj (3), Olympian Baljit Singh Dhillon also showed his grit and scored one goal on a accurate reverse flick. Upcoming youngster Ranjot Singh also put up an impressive play and scored two goals.

Punjab captain international Kamalpreet Singh, Avtar Singh(Sr) and Kuldeep Singh contributed one goal each in the team score.

Prior to this, the inaugural match between Maharashtra and All India Universities team ended in a 3-3 draw.

Maharastra dominated in the first half (3-2) but the young university lads defended well.

At one point of time Maharastra team was leading by 3-1 but Yaduvendra Singh of the universities rose to the occasion and brought the team back in the game by sounding the rival board on a penalty corner in 34th minute(3-2).

In the second half the universities lads played well and gave no undue liberty to Maharastra. In the meantime Yaduvendra struck again in 68th minute to score his second goal which enabled his team to secure an equaliser(3-3).

In another match Mumbai defeated Vidarbha 6-0.

Punjab Finance Minister Surinder Singla inaugurated the tournament at the Burtlon Park Surjit Hockey Stadium here.

Mr Singla also announced a grant of Rs 15 lakh for the tournament.

As many as 37 teams are participating in the tournament which is being played at four venues in Jalandhar, Amritsar, Ludhiana and Bhani Sahib.

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