Sameer's three-goal blitz sinks Karnataka, IHF beat Mumbai

Chennai, Dec 18 (UNI) Star-studded Indian Airlines thrashed Karnataka 4-1 to enter the quarterfinals and IHF Development team defeated Mumbai 3-0, while Air India and Indian Railways played a 1-1 draw in the 83 rd All India MCC-Murugappa Gold Cup Hockey tournament here today.

Packed with former and present internationals, the Airlines team helped by a three-goal blitz by Sameer Dad eliminated Karnataka to qualify from the three-team Group D. Ravinder Singh scored the other goal for Airlines, while Adarsh Ganaapthy reduced the margin for Karnataka three minutes before the hooter.

Karnataka, who lost 2-3 to Army XI yesterday, suffered their second successive loss and crashed out of the tournament. This enabled reigning champions Army XI to gain a berth in the last eight stage along with Indian Airlines. Tomorrow's contest between Indian Airlines and Army XI will decide the group topper.

Later, in a Group A match, IHF Development team, after their 2-5 drubbing at the hands of BPCL yesterday, came up with a resurgent show to beat Mumbai XI 3-0, thanks to young school kid from Punjab Vikramjeet Singh's two drag flick conversions and a peach of a goal from Sarwanjit Singh.

The win against Mumbai renewed IHF's hopes and their fate now depends on the outcome of the Mumbai-BPCL contest on December 20. A draw would enable IHF to seal a place in the last eight along with BPCL XI.

Earlier, in a Group C match, Indian Railways and Air India played a 1-1 draw and shared the honours. Railways forged a head in the 34th minute through a penalty corner conversion by Prem Kumar and Air India got the equaliser seven minutes into the second half through skipper Len Aiyappa, who scored off a rebound, again off a penalty corner.

Meanwhile, the withdrawal of Army Green, Dhanapur, reduced Pool-B to a two-team affair and both IOC and Tamil Nadu made it to the quarterfinals. IOC by virtue of their 3-1 win over Tamil Nadu yesterday topped the group.

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