Hockey: Air India, Indian Oil notch big wins

Chennai, Sep 13 (IANS) Last year’s joint winners Air India and Indian Oil Corporation Ltd launched their respective campaigns with a flourish by scoring runaway victories in their opening league matches of the 88th All-India MCC-Murugappa Gold Cup hockey tournament here Friday.

Air India, with a clutch of international starts, routed Indian Bank 10-2 with Shivendra Singh scoring thrice while Somanna Pradhan (2), Arjun Halappa (1), V.S. Vinaya (1), Armaan Qureshi (1), Joga Singh (1) and Sameer Dad (1) added to the tally.

For the bankmen, former international V Rajah struck both the goals, but his efforts were not enough to stop the marauding Air India.

Earlier, IOCL chalked up a fluent 8-1 win over CAG as penalty corner specialist Raghunath and Prabhjot Singh scoring thrice each while Deepak Thakur and Didar Singh knocked in one goal apiece.

CAG’s consolation goal was scored by SS Bundelha, but by then, IOCL were well on their way to a big win.