Pune: Income Tax Clinches Knockout Berth in Thrilling Finish at 3rd MJ Cup Invitational Hockey Tournament

Pune, 20th December 2023: Food Corporation of India (FCI) Pune needing a win to qualify for the knockouts did well to down Income Tax Pune 3-2 and make it to the quarterfinals of the 3rd MJ Cup Invitational Hockey Tournament (Men and Women) 2023 at the Maj. Dhyanchand Hockey Stadium at the Nehrunagar-Pimpri on Wednesday.

In Pool-D action, FCI struck the match-winner seconds from full time when Tejas Chauhan (60th) scored at death after Income Tax did well to play on par.

During regular time both teams were engaged in a stiff battle with Food Corporation of India Pune setting the pace with Aditya Rasal (10th) converting a penalty corner to give FCI the lead. Tejas Chauhan added another in the 27th minute to help FCI sit with a 2-0 advantage at half time.

Income Tax Pune staged a comeback in the second half with Arvind Yadav (40th) scoring off a penalty corner and then Romesh Pillay (44th) also scoring of a penalty corner to make it 2-2. Tejas found the net in the last minute with just 10 seconds to go.

The qualifiers for the last—8 include; PCMC and SRPF Pune ‘A’ (Pool-A); Central Railway Pune and Hockey Lovers Club (Pool-B); Krida Prabodhini and GST Customs Pune (Pool-C); Income Tax Pune and Food Corporation of India (Pool-D).

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

In Pool-C, Krida Prabodhini logged a 4-2 win over GST Customs Pune Dhairyashil Jadhav (2nd) a brace by Mayur Dhanawade (26th, 58th ) and Sagar Shingade (38th) was enough to down GST Customs Pune who had Aniket Gurav (10th) and Taleb Shah (21st) scored and reduce the margin.

RESULTS

Pool-B: Central Railway Pune: 7 (Yuvraj Walmiki 9th; Vinit Kamble 10th, 37th; Bhushan Dhere 17th; Govind Nag 29th – p.c, 32nd – p.c; Vinod Nimbhore 59th) Bt Hockey Lovers Club: 2 (Swapnil Garsund 40th; Pranav Garsund 58th). -0

Pool-C: Krida Prabodhini: 4 (Dhairyashil Jadhav 2nd; Mayur Dhanawade 26th – p.c, 58th – p.c; Sagar Shingade 38th) bt GST Customs Pune: 2 (Aniket Gurav 10th, Taleb Shah 21st). HT:2-0

Pool-D: Food Corporation Of India Pune: 3 (Aditya Rasal 10th – p.c; Tejas Chauhan 27th, 60th) bt Income Tax Pune: 2 (Arvind Yadav 40th – p.c; Romesh Pillay 44th – p.c). HT: 0-0.

Pool-A: Krida Prabodhini bt SNBP – Forfeited the match

Pool-A: PCMC bt Rovers Academy: – Forfeited the match

TUESDAY

Pool-C: Friends Union Club bt Hockey Lovers Academy – Forfeited The Match

QUARTERFINALS

PCMC ‘A’ v/s Hockey Lovers Club ‘B’ – 9.30 am

Income Tax Pune ‘D’ v/s GST Customs Pune ‘C’ – 11.30 p.m

Central Railway Pune ‘B’ v/s SRPF Pune ‘A’ – 1.00 p.m

Krida Prabodhini ‘C’ v/s Food Corporation of India (FCI) ‘D’ – 2.30pm