RSPB, Police reach Hockey India inter-departmental championship final

Railway Sports Promotion Board and the All India Police Sports Control Board reached the final of the Hockey India Senior Men Inter-Departmental Championship. RSPB stunned defending champions PSPB 2-1, while Police edged CAG 1-0 through Mohammad Haris' goal

Hyderabad: Railway Sports Promotion Board (RSPB) and the All India Police Sports Control Board (AISCB) knocked out last year’s finalists to set up an exciting final in the 6th Hockey India Senior Men Inter-Departmental Hockey Championship at the Gachibowli Hockey Stadium here on Monday.

The RSPB stunned defending champions Petroleum Sports Control Board (PSPB) 2-1, while the AISCB edged out runners-up Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG) by a solitary Mohammad Haris goal.

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Amandeep Lakra scored a brace as Railway entered the final after a closely fought semifinal on Sunday.

Railway, which had maintained a clean slate in the league phase, proved a handful for the Petroleum team, which was not at its best in the tournament.

Railway struck first in the seventh minute when Amandeep converted a penalty corner to give his side a rousing start to the semifinal.

Thereafter, most of the action was confined to the midfield as the teams found it difficult to breach the rival defence.

However, Amandeep was not to be denied for long as he converted another penalty corner in the 27th minute to give Railway a much-needed cushion.

The Petroleum men fought strongly, but Railway defended their citadel resolutely and denied their rivals a chance to breach it.

PSPB continued to mount pressure as the clock ticked away and was rewarded with a goal in the 45th minute, when Gurjot Singh scored off a penalty corner.

However, PSPB were unable to force another goal as the Railway defenders kept a strict vigil and secured their place in the final.

PSPB captain Devindar Walmiki earned a yellow card in the 41st minute, while RSPB’s Sheshe Gowda BM received a green card in the 45th minute.

The other semifinal turned into a tug-of-war between CAG and Police, with both sides solid in defence. The forwards were unable to breach the rival fortress for most of the 60 minutes of play.

Mohammad Haris’ strike in the 25th minute proved the difference as Police surged into the final.