Punjab & Sind Bank, PSPB, Railways, Services Impressive in Inter-Department Nationals
Punjab & Sind Bank haven’t quite made an impact in the domestic circuit so far – barring their runners-up finish in the 38th Surjit Hockey Tournament, where they lost to Railway Sports Promotion Board 1-3 in the final, the bankmen have very little to show for in terms of performance. At the 57 Gooncha Senior Hockey Tournament in Hyderabad, Punjab & Sind Bank failed to go beyond the quarterfinal league stage and were inflicted a 3-7 defeat by Railway Sports Promotion Board.
At the ongoing 1st Hockey India Senior Men Inter-Department National Championship being played at Bengaluru, Punjab & Sind Bank have been impressive so far, winning all their four league games with ease. The bank outfit have scored the most goals in the pool stage – 21 goals, including big wins against Sashastra Seema Bal (8-3) and Tamil Nadu Police (8-1) besides wins over CISF (3-1) and Central Civil Services Cultural And Sports Board (2-1).
The pool D toppers will have a tough quarterfinal against Petroleum Sports Board, who had beaten FCI 7-1, Major Port Sports Control Board 5-0, and settling for a 2-2 draw against Railway Sports Promotion Board.
Pool C Toppers Railway Sports Promotion Board are also looking good – they have drubbed FCI 7-1, CAG 3-0, Major Port Sports Control Board 5-0 and a 2-2 draw against Petroleum Sports Board in the pool stage. The railmen who won the 38th Surjit Hockey Tourney and 31st Lal Bahadur Shastri Hockey Tourney and had finished runners-up in the 57th Senior Nehru Hockey Tourney, will take on Central Civil Services Cultural and Sports Board in the quarterfinals.
Pool B toppers Punjab National Bank, who had reached the semifinals of the Surjit Hockey Tourney and 31st Lal Bahadur Shastri Hockey Tourney, dished our a robust performance in the pool stage thumping All India Police Sports Control Board 6-2, easing past Steel Plants Sports Board 5-0, nosing out SAI 2-1 and playing out a 3-3 draw against Canara Bank. The bankmen take on ITBP Central Hockey Team in the quarterfinals.
Pool A toppers Services Sports Control Board have promised a lot winning against Association of India Universities (5-0), ITBP Central Hockey Team (3-0), Defence Accounts Sports Control Board (5-0), and CRPF (4-0). The Services outfit who had finished runners-up in the 1st Chhaju Ram Memorial Senior Men’s Hockey Tournament, will lock horns with Sports Authority of India in the quarterfinals.
