Pune, June 28, 2023: It was a day of thrilling hockey matches at the Major Dhyanchand Hockey Stadium, Nehrunagar, Pimpri, as Kids XI and Central Railway, Pune emerged victorious in their respective encounters to advance to the next round of the Bharat Ratna Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar Hockey Tournament 2023.
The action-packed day started with Kids XI showcasing an impressive comeback against Poona Hockey Academy. After a 2-2 deadlock at the end of regulation time, Kids XI triumphed 3-1 in the shootout. The match saw an intense battle with Poona Hockey Academy taking an early lead through Ashfaq Shaikh’s goal in the 8th minute. However, Kids XI turned the tide in the second half, equalizing with Abhishek Aspat’s strike in the 48th minute. The last-minute drama ensued as both teams found the back of the net within a minute. Shubham Thakur converted a penalty corner to give Kids XI a 2-1 lead, but Poona Hockey Academy’s Manoj Pillay responded swiftly to level the scores 2-2, forcing the match into a shootout. Kids XI held their nerve in the shootout, securing the victory and advancing to the next round.
In the second match of the day, Central Railway, Pune showcased a dominant performance, defeating Pune City Police with a resounding 8-0 scoreline. Stephan Swami opened the scoring for Central Railway with two goals in the 4th and 22nd minutes, followed by a penalty-corner conversion by Govind Nag in the 17th minute to establish a comfortable 3-0 lead. The second half belonged to Aditya Rasal, who showcased his scoring prowess with a hat-trick, finding the back of the net in the 20th, 50th, and 52nd minutes. Vineet Kamble also contributed with two goals in the 31st and 44th minutes. Central Railway’s comprehensive victory marked the biggest win of the tournament thus far.
The results of the matches were as follows:
Kids XI: 2 (3) (Abhishek Aspat 48th; Shubham Thakur 58th – p.c; Sanket Hire, Swapnil Dhere, Shubham Thakur) bt Poona Hockey Academy: 2 (1) (Ashfaq Shaikh 8th, Manoj Pillay 59th; Sanket Patole). Halftime: 0-1.
Central Railway, Pune: 8 (Stephan Swami 4th, 22nd; Govind Nag 17th – p.c; Aditya Rasal 20th, 50th, 52nd; Vineet Kamble 31st, 44th) bt Pune City Police: 0. Halftime: 3-0.
The upcoming fixtures for Thursday are as follows:
- Poona Hockey Academy vs. PCMC Academy at 1:30 pm.
- Railway Line Boys vs. Krida Prabodhini at 3:30 pm.
Hockey enthusiasts are eagerly looking forward to witnessing more thrilling matches in the prestigious tournament.
