How Did Punjab Hockey League Unfold? SAI Sonipat Tops the Table!

Mohali, Sep 3 (NationPress) The Sports Authority of India National Centre of Excellence (SAI NCOE), Sonipat achieved their third consecutive victory, rising to the top of the table. Meanwhile, Roundglass Hockey Academy garnered a bonus point with a shootout win against Naval Tata Academy, Jamshedpur, after a thrilling 4-4 draw on Day Three of the second edition of the Punjab Hockey League (U 21), held at the Olympian Balbir Singh Senior International Hockey Stadium here on Wednesday.

The SDAT Hockey Academy from Tamil Nadu and SGPC Hockey Academy in Amritsar also celebrated their initial victories in the league.

SAI Sonipat clinched their third straight win with a narrow 1-0 triumph over PIS Surjit Hockey Academy, Jalandhar, during the day's second match. A penalty corner conversion by Navraj Singh in the 42nd minute ensured SAI's victory.

In a gripping final match of the day, Roundglass Hockey Academy and Naval Tata Academy battled to a 4-4 draw. Roundglass secured a bonus point after triumphing 3-0 in the shootout. Roundglass initially surged ahead with two goals within six minutes, scored by Gursewak Singh and Jobanpreet Singh, before conceding three consecutive goals that allowed Naval Tata to take the lead.

Tushar Parmar netted two goals, and Premchand Soy scored another. However, RGHA equalized in the 42nd minute thanks to Gurwinder Singh. Naval Tata regained their lead in the 47th minute with a penalty corner conversion by Ashish Tani Purti, but RGHA fought back once again, leveling the score in the 52nd minute with another goal from Gurwinder Singh.

In the shootout, Roundglass goalkeeper Jeevan Singh put on a stellar performance, saving all three penalties taken by Naval Tata's Afridi, Ganga Topno, and Tintus Hemrom. Meanwhile, Japnit Singh, Arshdip Singh, and Sunny Singh successfully converted their penalties for Roundglass, earning them the bonus point.

Earlier in the day, SDAT Hockey Academy defeated Namdhari Hockey Academy 4-0, marking their first win in the league. Goals from C. Shibi Yuvaraj and M. Gowtham provided a 2-0 lead at halftime, and S. Krishnan converted two penalty corners in the third and fourth quarters, securing a comfortable victory.

SGPC Hockey Academy in Amritsar triumphed 7-3 over Ghumanhera Risers Hockey Academy, New Delhi, to achieve their first league victory. SGPC took an early two-goal lead within seven minutes with a brace from Sukhveer Singh, but Ghumanhera equalized with goals from Tushar and Parikshit.

SGPC regained the lead in the 24th minute with a goal from Jashanpreet Singh, only for Ghumanhera to equalize again in the 33rd minute through Nikil. However, SGPC took control at the end of the third quarter with a penalty corner conversion by Kamaljeet Singh. In the final quarter, SGPC dominated, thanks to a hat trick from Sukhdev Singh, who scored three penalty corners.