Chennai : A clinical performance in the second half saw Indian Railways overpower Maharashtra 4–2 in a Pool A match at the 94th MCC-Murugappa Gold Cup hockey tournament at the Mayor Radhakrishnan Stadium. The match started slow but picked up pace as Railways took control, leaving Maharashtra to play catch-up.
Gursahibjit Opens Scoring, Maharashtra Responds
After a quiet first quarter, Gursahibjit Singh broke the deadlock for Railways in the 18th minute with a well-executed field goal. Maharashtra managed to bounce back just before halftime as Ganesh Patil converted a penalty corner in the 32nd minute, restoring parity at 1–1.
Railways Turn Up the Heat Late in the Game
The second half saw Railways shift gears. Darshan Gawkar regained the lead for his side with a field goal in the 53rd minute, followed by a penalty stroke conversion by Sheshe Gowda in the 56th minute. A minute later, Shanmugam P scored from open play to make it 4–1, virtually sealing the contest. Maharashtra pulled one back in the dying seconds, but it was too little, too late.
Army Prevails in Tight Contest
In the other Pool A encounter of the day, Indian Army edged SAI NCOE Bhopal 1–0, with Akshay Dubey scoring the winner via a penalty corner in the 7th minute. Despite late pressure from the young Bhopal side, the Army held firm to claim full points.
Latest Update: Key Pool A Standings Shift
With this result, Railways have strengthened their position in Pool A, moving closer to a potential semi-final berth. The Indian Army also remain in the hunt after securing their second win. Maharashtra, on the other hand, will need to regroup quickly for their remaining fixtures if they hope to stay in contention.
What’s Next?
The tournament continues with crucial fixtures across both Pool A and Pool B in the coming days. Top teams from each pool will advance to the semi-finals, setting up what promises to be an intense climax to India’s prestigious domestic hockey tournament.
Stay tuned for match schedules, team standings, and exclusive updates from Chennai.
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