BPCL lifts MCC-Murugappa Gold Cup

Chennai, Dec 25 (UNI) Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited (BPCL) edged past a fighting Indian Oil Corporation (IOC) 9-8 via sudden death to annexe the MCC-Murugappa Gold Cup Hockey title here this evening.

In a fitting final, both the teams were level at 1-1 at the end of regulation time, taking the contest to an extra time and then to a tie-breaker, which also failed to resolve the deadlock.

In the sudden death IOC's Rajbir singh fumbled a crucial shot to hand the BPCL the title and the prize money of Rs 1.30 lakh.

Winger Tushar Kandekar hoisted the lead for BPCL in 17th minute and IOC neutralised it in the 58th minute through a peach of a goal from Prabhjot Singh.

In the tie-breaker, both the teams converted four of the five shots, stretching the contest to sudden death where Prakash, Deepak Sharma, Prabhdeep Singh and Irshad Ali succeeded.

For IOC, Didar Singh, Raghu Prasad and Bharat Chikkara converted, while Didar hit straight to Goal keeper's pads, triggering wild celebrations from BPCL bench.

IOC had to be content with runners-up purse of Rs 80,000.

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