Pune: GST and Krida Prabodhini Clash in Intense Battle for Semifinal Spot at 3rd MJ Cup Invitational Hockey Tournament 2023

Pune, 21th December 2023: PCMC Academy, GST Customs Pune, Central Railway Pune and Krida Prabodhini registered contrasting victories to storm into the semifinals of the 3rd MJ Cup Invitational Hockey Tournament (Men and Women) 2023 at the Maj. Dhyanchand Hockey Stadium at the Nehrunagar-Pimpri on Thursday.

The tournament being held under the aegis of Hockey Maharashtra and organized by Excellency Hockey Academy in joint association with the Dhanraj Pillay Foundation.

The day began with the first quarterfinal turning out to be one sided with PCMC Academy slamming an home a 8-1 verdict over Hockey Lovers Club. Abhishekh Mane (2nd) opened the account before Harshdeep Singh (13th) doubled the lead.

Hockey Lovers Club skipper Nihal Goratkar (19th) made it 2-1, but then it was PCMC Academy all the way. Sourabh Patil (37th) and Akshay Jadhav (39th) knocked in penalty corners to swell the lead to 4-1. Jay Kale (55th, 57th) netted a double after Harshdeep completed his double (51st) while ex-international Vikram Pillay (59th) hit the final nail with a penalty corner conversion.

Later, GST Customs Pune fought off the challenge of Income Tax Pune 6-4 after playing out a four-goal draw at full time. Stephan Swami (24th) and Felix Baa (39th) scored for GST while a brace by Vikram Singh (16th) off a penalty stroke and then deep into the second half in the 54th minute helped Income Tax stay in the fray and live in hope.

In the tie-breaker, Taleb Shah, Felix Baa, Satish Paul, Stephen Swami scored for GST and Custome, while Gurmukh Singh and Chirag Mane were the lone successful players for Income Tax.

In the third quarterfinal, Central Railway Pune hammered an 8-0 verdict over SRPF Pune. Reuben Kedari (12th) a brace by Yuvraj Walmiki (13th, 14th), Vinit Kamble (29th), a penalty corner conversion by Ganesh Patil (39th) and a goal each by Bhushan Dhere (41st), Shreyas D (51st) and a Vishal Pillay (53rd) off a penalty corner rounded off the tally.

The final semifinal slot was claimed Krida Prabodhini who downed Food Corporation of India (FCI) with a comeback 3-2 win. Krida Prabodhini went into arrears when Food Corporation of India (FCI) had (Bhim (5th) score early.

Krida Prabodhini however stung back when Sagar Shingade (25th) levelled converting a penalty corner. FCI staged a fightback with Tejas Chauhan (48th) making it 2-1. Fighting their way into the match again, Krida Prabodhini boys had Prajwal Moharkar (53rd) and Vinayak Hande (57th) pull off a sensation victory.

In the semifinals PCMC play GST & Customs Pune and Central Railway Pune take on Krida Prabodhini on Friday.

RESULTS

QF-1: PCMC Academy: 8 (Abhishekh Mane 2nd; Harshdeep Singh 13th, 51st; Sourabh Patil 37th – p.c; Akshay Jadhav 39th– p.c; Jay Kale 55th, 57th; Vikram Pillay 59th– p.c) bt Hockey Lovers Club: 1 (Nihal Goratkar 19th). HT: 2-0

QF-2: GST Customs Pune: 2,4 (Stephan Swami; 24th; Felix Baa 39th; Taleb Shah, Felix Baa, Satish Paul, Stephen Swami) bt Income Tax Pune: 2,2 (Vikram Singh 16th – p.s, 54th; Gurmukh Singh, Chirag Mane). HT:1-1

QF-3: Central Railway Pune: 8 (Reuben Kedari 12th- p.c; Yuvraj Walmiki 13th, 14th; Vinit Kamble 29th; Ganesh Patil 39th- p.c; Bhushan Dhere 41st; Shreyas D 51st; Vishal Pillay 53rd- p.c) bt SRPF Pune: 0. HT: 4-0

QF-4: Krida Prabodhini: 3 (Sagar Shingade 25th- p.c; Prajwal Moharkar 53rd; Vinayak Hande 57th) bt Food Corporation of India (FCI): 2 (Bhim 5th; Tejas Chauhan 48th). HT: 1-1