~ Petroleum Sports Promotion Board beat Services Sports Promotion Board 3-3 (4-2 SO) in the 2nd Semi-Final ~
Bengaluru, 7th March 2023: The penultimate day at the 3rd Hockey India Senior Men Inter-Department National Championship 2023 saw some thrilling performances with the four teams fighting for a place in the Final. In the first Semi-Final of the day, a star-studded Railway Sports Promotion Board broke little sweat in defeating Central Industrial Security Force 5-0 while Petroleum Sports Promotion Board defeated Services Sports Promotion Board 3-3 (4-2 SO) in the 2nd Semi-Final.
Pardeep Singh scored the winning team’s first goal in the 15th minute, which set the momentum for the rest of the match. They built on this attack to pump goals at regular intervals. Star India defender and drag flicker Amit Rohidas converted a fine goal from a penalty corner in the 24th minute followed by a 35th-minute goal by Pardeep Singh. Yuvraj Walmiki scored a splendid field goal in the 37th minute while Ajit Kumar Pandey found the back of the net in the 53rd minute as Railway Sports Promotion Board recorded an easy win.
The match between Services Sports Control Board and Petroleum Sports Promotion Board ended in a tense shootout, making the second Semi-Final an exciting contest. Petroleum Sports Promotion Board eventually emerged victorious, thanks to the heroics of their strikers Maninder Singh, Talwinder Singh, Devindar Walmiki and Vikramjit Singh who scored sensational goals in the shootout to edge out their rivals 4-2 while their goalkeeper Pankaj Kumar Rajak did a fine job to defend the post and ensure their team finds a place in the Final.
In regulation time, both teams drew 3-3 with goals from Harman Singh (5′), Pawan Rajbhar (31′) and Sushil Dhanwar (51′) for Services Sports Control Board. On the other hand, SV Sunil (30′), Maninder Singh (34′) and Talwinder Singh (42′) found the back of the net for Petroleum Sports Promotion Board.
