PUNE, Oct 3: Going by skill and talent alone, Indian hockey holds a lot of promise. Translating that into world domination will take some planning and execution, however. The cream of the country's challenge for the next decade displayed their wares at the PCMC Poligras Stadium here today -- watched eagerly by Indian Hockey Federation secretary K Jothikumaran, former Indian skipper M Somaya, Maharashtra Hockey Association secretary Benny Boodle and local die-hards, joyous at a rare national convergence of talent in this city. With IHF president KPS Gill due to arrive in the city tomorrow, the event assumes further significance.The 2001 Junior World Cup hopefuls pushed-off the tournament comprising trainees at camps in Bangalore and Pune. Of special interest is the Light Blues (under-21) side under CR Kumar, training at Bangalore, and comprising most of the squad that finished second to South Korea in an eight-nation tourney at Poznan, Poland, in August.
Light Blues (u-21) beat Reds (u-18) 3-1 after Dark Blues got the better of Orange 4-3 in the opening round of matches that displayed energy, effervescence and enthusiasm.
Perhaps a little of disappointment for Reds coaches Clarence Lobo and Ajay Bansal whose under-18 charges training in Pune could have done better had they sustained tempo in the second half.
And for Olympian Somaya, hope for the future -- in terms of penalty corner execution. Powerfully built Len Ayappa aspires to be an Indian Bovelander. Full-back in the under-21 side, he scored from the drag flick and loomed ominously at four penalty corners that the Poznan side forced. ``He's the best on view in the country,'' Somaya said. ``I haven't seen another flick so powerfully,'' the 1988 Seoul Olympic skipper added.
Inside-right Hamza Mujtaba shot Reds ahead early but Ayappa's wrists restored parity from his side's first penalty corner in the 25th minute. The u-21s then took the lead through inside-left Prakash Chalke who slotted home Radhakrishnan's cross from the right. Reds erred in giving away possession often. The ensuing pressure brought on the inevitable and Chalke scored his second in the 58th minute from his side's fourth penalty corner. More by accident than design, however. A hesitant defence allowing a hap-hazard bout of passing find the net via Chalke's deflection.
Tejveer Singh struck three for Dark Blues -- the matchwinner from a penalty corner. Dark Blues fought back from 0-2 down, then 1-3 to level at 3-3 before Tejveer scored in the 55th minute.
Results: Dark Blues 4 (Tejveer Singh 3, Binku Munda) bt Orange 3 (Lakhwinder 2, Gurvinder). Under-21 (Light Blues) 3 (Prakash Chalke 2, Len Ayappa) bt Reds1 (Hamza Mujtaba).
Copyright © 1999 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.
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