Tirkey Rajat Akash (14 blue jersey) of Hockey Association of Odisha scoring aย goalย againstย Hockey Karnataka during the 95th All India MCCย Murugappaย Gold Cup Hockey Tournament 2024 at the Mayor Radhakrishnan Stadium, Egmore in Chennai
| Photo Credit: R.ย Ravindran
Maharashtra displayed exemplary fighting spirit to script a stunning 5-4 win over former champion BPCL in the 95th MCC-Murugappa Gold Cup All-India hockey tournament held in Chennai on Friday (September 20, 2024).
Earlier, Odisha registered an easy 4-1 victory over Karnataka, last yearโs finalist, for its first win in two matches.
Playing in the tournament for the first time, Maharashtra came roaring back from being 0-2 and then 1-3 down.
Things changed dramatically in the third and fourth quarters.
From 1-3, Maharashtra scored four goals: a brace each by Aditya Lalage, a current junior world cupper, and Stephen Swamy. BPCL, however, had its chances in the final quarter.
Trailing 3-5, BPCL reduced the margin through a stroke that was converted by Varun Kumar.
With four minutes remaining for the final whistle, BPCL had a golden opportunity to equalise.
But Varunโs stroke was saved by goalkeeper Shivratna Rasal.
The results:
Odisha 4 (Ekka Rahul 22, Tirkey Rajat Akash 29, Kangadi Satish 30 & 56) bt Karnataka 1 (K. Chetan Mallappa 60).
Maharashtra 5 (Mayur Dhanavde 22, Stephen Swamy 45 & 51, Aditya Lalage 45 & 46) bt BPCL 4 (Tejas Chavan 11, Rajinder Singh 15, Sunil Somwarpet 40, Varun Kumar 53).
National Centre of Excellence (NCOE, Bhopal) 3 (Rajat Minz 33, Parmod 42 & 53) bt Central Secretariat 2 (Vinay 35, Hassan Basha 38).
Published – September 21, 2024 01:30 am IST
