Air India, Namdhari XI win in Senior National Hockey

New Delhi, Oct 23 (UNI) Air India blanked FCI 4-0, while Namdhari XI also proved its superiority over ONGC by beating them 3-1 in the matches between associate members for the 62nd Senior National Hockey Championship here today.

In a lop-sided match, the Len Aiyappa-led Air India took lead as early as in the sixth minute through Brund Lugun's field goal and Aiyappa then translated the second penalty corner to put side ahead 2-0 ahead as they went into the breather.

The second session followed more or less the same script with Air India dictating terms and Alden D'Souza found target in the 56th minute to make it 3-0 and Gagandeep Singh then rounded off the tally with a 63rd minute strike.

Earlier, Namdhari XI, after held till the breather, opened the account in the 39th minute through Sher Singh but the joy proved shortlived as ONGC's Anurag Raghuvanshi equalised within two minutes.

Gurpreet Singh helped Namdhari regain the lead by converting a penalty corner and Sukhjinder Singh, within seven minutes, put it beyond ONGC's reach by slamming in the final goal of the match to make it 3-1.

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