Exciting Twists in Punjab Hockey League: Upsets and Comebacks on Day 10
In a thrilling day of action at the Punjab Hockey League (U-21), under-21 hockey stars delivered surprises and nail-biting finishes at the Olympian Surjit Singh Hockey Stadium in Jalandhar. The second edition of this grassroots hockey tournament, organized by Roundglass Hockey Academy and Hockey Punjab, saw table-toppers Roundglass Hockey Academy (RGHA) suffer their first defeat, shaking up the standings.
Naval Tata Hockey Academy from Jamshedpur pulled off a stunning 5-3 win over RGHA, handing them their maiden loss. RGHA struck first with Sukhpreet Singh’s goal in the 16th minute, but Naval Tata fired back with five quick goals in just 19 minutes. Sabian Kiro shone with a brace, while Ganga Topno, Mohit Nayak, and Ashish Tani Purti added to the tally. RGHA fought back late in the final quarter through Japnit Singh and Anurag, but it wasn’t enough to close the gap.
This slip-up opened the door for the Sports Authority of India (SAI) National Centre of Excellence from Sonipat. They staged an incredible comeback, rallying from 3-1 down to beat PIS Surjit Hockey Academy 4-3. Happy Singh gave SAI an early lead in the 11th minute, but Surjit responded with three rapid strikes from Manroop Singh, Abhishek Gorkhi, and Ajaypal Singh. Navraj Singh leveled the score at 3-3 with two penalty corner conversions, and Harpal sealed the victory with a penalty stroke goal in the 57th minute. SAI Sonipat now tops the table with 27 points from 10 matches, edging out RGHA on 26 points. Naval Tata climbs to third with 17 points.
The day’s excitement kicked off with SDAT Hockey Academy edging Namdhari Hockey Academy 2-1 in a gritty comeback. Gurpreet Singh put Namdhari ahead in the 9th minute, but C. Shibi Yuvaraj and S. Vishal turned the game around for SDAT’s third straight win.
In the final clash, SGPC Hockey Academy from Amritsar outlasted Ghumanhera Risers Hockey Academy 4-3, scoring once per quarter to keep the pressure on. Sukhveer Singh, Jashanpreet Singh, Harmanreet Singh, and Jarmanpreet Singh netted for SGPC, while Nikil, Dinesh, and Duvish replied for Ghumanhera.
Launched by Roundglass Hockey Academy and Hockey Punjab, the Punjab Hockey League is India’s pioneering junior hockey competition for U-19 and U-21 players. It features eight teams from across the country, offering massive match exposure to nurture young talent at the grassroots level. With a whopping Rs 30 lakh prize pool—the biggest ever for a junior hockey event—the league helps players build skills for professional growth and dreams of national glory.
Catch tomorrow’s action starting at 9 AM:
- SDAT Hockey Academy vs PIS Surjit Hockey Academy (9 AM)
- Namdhari Hockey Academy vs SGPC Hockey Academy (11 AM)
- SAI Sonipat vs Roundglass Hockey Academy (1 PM)
- Ghumanhera Risers Hockey Academy vs Naval Tata Hockey Academy (3 PM)
Stay tuned for more updates on this high-stakes junior hockey league that’s boosting Indian hockey from the ground up!
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