KOLKATA: The 121st All India Beighton Cup Hockey Tournament got underway with the pre quarter-final round matches happening at the SAI Complex in Kolkata. Though the qualifiers started from December 16 but the main round of country’s oldest domestic hockey competition began today.
In the opening match Kolkata Polica AC trounce Canara Bank 5-1. While Gurpreet Singh converted three penalty corners in the 4th, 16th and 42nd minute to score a fine hat-trick, Pritam Mistri (46th) and Atanu Saha (60th) scored field goals for Police AC. Vergese John struck a consolation goal in the 57th minute for Canara Bank.
Meanwhile in the second match, Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG) edged past Central Railways 5-4 (1-1) on penalties. CAG drew the first blood in the 17th minute through their skipper Nithin Thimmaiah, but Central Railways equalized through Naved Bhavdav in the 27th minute when he converted a penalty stroke.
Thereafter both teams failed to break the deadlock forcing the game to be decided on penalties where CAG proved to be better shooters.
