Army XI (Bangalore) overwhelmed Indian Bank 6-2 in the final of the IOB-Syed Ahmed memorial all-India hockey tournament at the SDAT-Mayor Radhakrishnan Stadium, here on Sunday.
Indian Bank played beyond expectations in the first session by defending well and attacking in spurts, nearly matching the fitter and better organised Army XI in all departments.
The Bangalore team opened the account hardly six minutes into the contest when Sunil Ekka provided the finishing touches off a pass from Arumugam, who stretched hard to put the ball which was on its way out, into play. There were series of sorties by Army XI, but it was Indian Bank which equalised. Heartlin James’ aerial backhander from the right ballooned when it reached Philip Martin, but the latter pulled it down and wasted no time in unleashing a fierce shot.
Army XI continued to attack with precision, using its flanks to a nicety. Mukesh Lakra made it 2-1 off a penalty corner.
Despite being at the receiving end of several counter-attacks, Indian Bank stayed firm and equalised again thanks to a neat strike by Deepak off a penalty corner that hit the middle of the net.
The second session completely belonged to Army XI as its frontline made circles around a hapless Indian Bank defence. In one such move, Eliazek Lakara pushed one home with hardly five minutes into the game.
After a deft deflection by Arumugam into the net off a fierce hit by Poovana from the right, Army XI scored two more through Sunil Ekka and Chittaranjan in quick succession towards the end.
Gopal Chand, coach of Army XI, credited the high fitness level of his players for the victory. “It was because of excellent fitness and our use of the flanks that we were able to win. This is our fourth all-India title this year,” he said.
Army XI was richer by Rs. 1 lakh, while Indian Bank received Rs. 75,000. K.V. Krishnan, General Manager, IOB, gave away the prizes.
The result: Final: Army XI 6 (Sunil Ekka 2, Mukesh Lakra, Eliazek Lakara, Arumugam, Chittaranjan) bt Indian Bank 2 (Philip Martin, Deepak).
