MUMBAI, May 7: Khalsa Gymkhana staved off a fine challenge by young Fr Agnel's Balbhavan to make the semi-finals of the BHA Bhivandiwalla Cup hockey tournament on home turf today.

Khalsa, buoyed by Hardeep Singh Saini's double strike, won 3-2 and will now meet Rebels Sports Club who spanked a pathetically languid Indian Airlines 4-0 later in the evening.

But a keen semi-final tussle in store may just about see Rebels start as favourite against Khalsa on Friday. Hardeep, the most experienced player on the pitch will be out of town, coaching Mumbai's junior women at the Nationals in Jalandhar.

The Balbhavan lads set a scorching pace and the player to shine yet again was Gurmeet Rao, the spearhead whose valiant performance brought his side the goals - excellent attempts each.

Hardeep put Khalsa ahead after 22 minutes from Adeep Shirali's corner from the left. Six minutes later Viabhav Lokhande touched in a cross from the right wing.

Gurmeet reduced the margin a minute from the interval, going it alone and finishing with a flick that went beneath the goalkeeper.

Hardeep regained Khalsa's two-goal cushion when Hardeep converted a penalty-stroke 13 minutes into the second-half after the skipper himself was stick-checked in the circle.

But Fr Agnel's hauled themselves back into contention and Gurmeet showed his immense potential once again with a quality goal. The young Sikh, dribbled past two defenders and cracked past a bewildered `keeper to pull one back four minutes from time.

Tiny right-winger Calvin Fernandes had much to do in Rebels' facile win over an ageing Indian Airlines. He paved way for two goals and scored one and like left-winger Ashlyn Piedade gave the airmen's defence no rest.

Ray Finch slammed home Calvin's cross in the 24th minute to enable Rebels cross over with a 1-0 lead. Calvin himself made it 2-0 with a fine angular shot from top of the area shortly into the second half.

Another cross from the dimunitive winger found Ashlyn near the far post. The left-winger slotted home without much ado.

Finch scored his second from his side's fifth penalty-corner, taking his time to unleash a firm shot that sounded the boards.

CCI OPEN POSTPONED: The CCI Open Billiards and Snooker Tournament and Alpic Om Agarwal Memorial tournament has been put back. Originally scheduled to be held from May 8-26 (billiards) and May 27 to June 7 (snooker), the tournaments will now be held from May 19-June 7 and June 8 to 18 respectively.

Copyright © 1997 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.