Hockey Tournament: Sambalpur University fight off Bangalore City University  

Pune, 11th March 2022: Sambhalpur University left it late to down last-years runners up Bangalore City University, Bengaluru on a day when North Zone teams bloomed in the SNBP – 28th Nehru All-India Inter University Hockey Tournament (Inter Zonal Final) at the Major Dhyan Chand Hockey Stadium, Nehrunagar, Pimpri on Friday.

On Day 3, East Zone runners up Sambhalpur University forced a 3-2 win over Bangalore City University after Bikash Lakra (57th) struck the winner.  In other matches, North Zone’s Gurunanak Dev University, Amritsar and Kurukshetra University bounced back from opening day losses by registering contrasting wins. Gurunanak Dev beat LNIPE, Gwalior 5-0, while Kurukshetra recorded a landslide 16-3 win over Parul University, Vadodra.

In another match, VBSP University, Jaunpur and Manonmanium Sundarnar University, Tirunveli played out a 3-3 draw.

The tournament is being conducted in collaboration with Association of Indian Universities (AIU), under aegis of Hockey India and title sponsored by SNBP Group of Institutes, Pune.

Pool-B had contrasting action unfold.

Sambhalpur were off the blocks quick and opened a 2-0 advantage over Bangalore City with goals from Shakti Kujur (9th) off a penalty corner and then Nitesh (12th) to lead at half time.

Bharat Mh (31st) reduced the margin for Bangalore City, before Pranam Gowda Ym (39th) converted a penalty stroke to make it 2-2.

Three minutes from the final whistle, Sambhalpur had Bikash Lakra (57th) his angular drive beat goalkeeper Ravi Kumar Rh after a quickly taken foul on the edge of the circle.

Later, Pool-B witnessed a goal glut with as many as 19 goals scored in a single match. Kurukshetra University, Kurukshetra attacked at will to down Parul University, Vadodra 16-3, after beginning their campaign with a loss.

The winners were led by a 6-goal effort by Rahul Kumar (6th, 14th, 36th, 37th, 41st, 56th), which included a third quarter hat-trick. Adding to the tally was the four-goal feat of Mokhram (11th, 23rd, 26th; 60th) apart from a goal each by Agyapal (8th), Iknoordeep Singh (10th), Kohinoorpreet Singh (16th), Sachin (32nd), Vishal (45th) and Rudrapratak Bakshi (45th)

For Parul University, Vadodra, Ruchit Patel (13th, 45th) and Sisodiya Vuraj (59th) reduced the margin.

The results of today’s matches opened up Pool-B with Sambhalpur (3 points; 1 match), Bangalore City University (3 points; 2 matches) and Kurukshetra University (3 points, 2 matches) equal on points. Parul (0 points; 1 match) completed the group.

The day began with Pool-A action wherein VSBP University, Jaunpur blew an early two-goal advantage and ended up holding a fighting Manonmaniium Sundarnar University, Tirunveli in a six-goal thriller

VSBP worked a 2-0 advantage via goals from Vejendra Singh (8th) and Manish Sahani (15th) to lead 2-0 at the half-way stage. However, the Southern team came back strongly in the third quarter with Aravind V (36th) and Sundara Pandi A (37th) making it 2-2.

The fourth quarter belonged to both teams, with the Tirunveli side taking the lead for the first time when Arvind Kumar S (53rd) netted. However, VSBP had other ideas and survived the day after Vejendra (55th) made it 3-3.

Later, Gurunanak Dev University, Amritsar put aside LNIEP, Gwalior 5-0 and bounced back into contention. A brace by Ramandeep Singh (15th and 35th) and a goal each by Dilpreet Singh (10th), Sanjay Kumar (19th) and Sudarshan Singh (57th) was the feature of the North Zone winner’s victory.

The draw helped VSBP University lead Pool-A with 4 points from 2 matches, followed by Gurunanak Dev University (3 points; 2 matches), Manonmaniium Sundarnar University, Tirunveli (1 point; 1 match) and LNIPE, Gwalior (0 points; 1 match).

RESULTS

Pool-A:  VBSP University, Jaunpur: 3 (Vejendra Singh 8th, 55th; Manish Sahani 15th) drew with Manonmaniium Sundarnar University, Tirunveli: 3 (Aravind V 36th; Sundara Pandi A 37th; Arvind Kumar S 53rd). HT: 2-0

Pool-A: Guru Nanak Dev University, Amritsar: 5 (Dilpreet Singh 10th; Ramandeep Singh 15th, 35th; Sanjay Kumar 19th; Sudarshan Singh 57th) bt LNIEP, Gwalior: 0. HT: 3-0

Pool-B: Kurukshetra University, Kurukshetra: 16 (Rahul Kumar 6th, 14th, 36th, 37th, 41st, 56th; Agyapal 8th; Iknoordeep Singh 10th, Mokhram 11th, 23rd, 26th; 60th; Kohinoorpreet Singh 16th, Sachin 3 2nd; Vishal 45th; Rudrapratak Bakshi 45th) bt Parul University, Vadodra: 3 (Ruchit Patel 13th, 45th; Sisodiya Vuraj 59th). HT: 8-1

Pool-B: Sambhalpur University, Sambalpur: 3 (Shakti Kujur 9th; Nitesh 12th; Bikash Lakra 57th) bt Bangalore City University, Bengaluru: 2 (Bharath Mh. Pranam Gowda Ym 39th). HT: 2-0

SATURDAY’S FIXTURES

Pool-C: SRM University, Chennai vs Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi – 10.00 a.m

Pool-C: Savitribai Phule University, Pune v/s Punjabi University, Patiala – 11.30 a.m

Pool-D: University of Mumbai v/s Lovely Professional University, Phagwara – 1.30 p.m

Pool-D: MG Kashi Vidyapeeth, Varanasi v/s Bangalore University, Bengaluru – 3.00 p.m