Pune Hockey: Ctrl. Railway top Group-B enter semifinals
Pune, 15th October, 2025: Central Railway finished with a clean sheet winning their third match in the Seniors Section to qualify for the semifinals in the 4th M.J Cup Memorial Hockey Tournament Men and Women 2025 at the Major Dhyan Chand Hockey Stadium, Nehrunagar-Pimpri.
The tournament is being conducted under the aegis of Hockey Maharashtra and Hockey Pune.
Inn a Group-B encounter, Central Railway and Income Tax were playing for top honours of the group. Central Railway were first to strike when Zaidn Khaan (27’) scored to go 1-1. Earlier, Income Tax took the lead when Almaaz Khan (23’) scored which also ended action in the first half. Changing ends Kumar Love (47’) and Sundaram Singh (55’) scored to complete a group winning show. Income Tax (6 points) took second spot in the group.
On Wednesday, the day began in the Junior Section, with Hockey Lovers Sports Club registering a huge 9-0 win over Col Bhagat. The Group-A encounter was highlighted by three goals apiece by Mussa Shaikh (6’, 37’, 49’) and Hitesh Kalyanna (33’, 35’, 41’) all were scored from the field. The other scorers for the winners included Ifaz Shaikh (7’), Nihal Goratkar (18’) and Saurabh Patil (28’). At half-time the winners led 4-0.
On Tuesday late, in a Senior Section game Central Railway scored their second win getting the better of Mumbai Republicans 2-1 in a tightly contested match in Group-A. Joginder Singh (18’) opened the scoring for Central Railway, which was reduced by Mumbai Republicans Ranshankar Sonkar (43’) to level scores 1-1.
Central Railway broke the deadlock when Shreyas Dhupe (48’) scored the match-winner 2-1. Central Railways now have 6 points from 2 matches and are virtually through to the semi-finals.
RESULTS (Juniors, Day-5)
Group-A: Hockey Lovers Sports Club: 9 (Mussa Shaikh 6’, 37’, 49’; Ifaz Shaikh 7’ Nihal Goratkar 18’; Saurabh Patil 28’; Hitesh Kalyanna 33’, 35’, 41’) bt Col Bhagat: 0. HT: 4-0
RESULTS (Seniors, Day-5)
Group-B: Central Railway: 3 (Zaidn Khaan 27’; Kumar Love 47’; Sundaram Singh 55’) bt Income Tax: 1 (Almaaz Khan 23’). HT: 1-1
RESULTS (Seniors, on Tuesday)
Group-A: Central Railway: 2 (Joginder Singh 18’; Shreyas Dhupe 48’) bt Mumbai Republicans: 1 (Ramshankar Sonkar 43’). HT: 1-0
