CHANDIGARH, Sept 28: A 3-0 victory for Customs over their rivals Faridkot XI was not the true index of the competition between them in the 28th All India Gurmit Memorial hockey tournament being played at the Sector 42 Hockey Stadium here today. The spirited Faridkot boys were a consistent threat to the Customs defence. Faridkot outside right Sunil Kumar initiated a number of goal-bearing moves.However, lack of finishing touches among the forwards eluded them a goal. Speedy Sunil Kumar tested Customs goalkeeper Maslamam on a number of occasion. His best move came in the 51st minute when his angular reverse shot on the run was just padded away by the Customs custodian in the nick of time.Customs opened their account in the very first minute when international Rahul Singh converted a penalty corner. Thereafter Customs were given a tough time by a never-say-die Faridkot XI. Still Customs managed to increase the lead two minutes before the half time. They got their fifth penalty corner and this time Suresh converted it after receiving a pass from Rahul Singh.Substitute Daljit Singh immediately made his presence felt as he sounded the board in a goalmouth scramble to round off the winners' tally in the 42nd minute.With this win, Customs XI moved into the pre-quarter-final round where they face Shivalik Club on September 30.IAF, ASSAM REGIMENT WIN: Earlier, in preliminary round matches, Indian Air Force registered a 3-1 victory over Food Corporation of India (North) and Assam Regiment prevailed over Corps of Signals 2-1.Assam Regiment and Signals were evenly balanced. Both had equal number of chances to score. Assam Regiment capitalised on two chances and Signals only once. Assam Regiment forced penalty corners in the second, fourth, 17th, 49th, 57th and 66th minutes while Signals were awarded penalty corners in the 12th, 27th, 33rd, 38th, 47th, 48th and 67th minutes. All penalty corners proved abortive. Signals also got a penalty stroke which was converted by J P Singh in the 39th minute.On the other hand, Assam Regiment scored through Suranjit Singh (16th) and I Homa (61st).In the third match, Indian Air Force defeated FCI without facing much problem. The airmen scored their goals through J Kujur (18th), Balbir Singh (34th) and Baldev Singh (63rd). The solitary goal for FCI was scorede by Satish (55th, penalty corner).Tuesday's fixtures: Sikh Centre vs DLW Varanasi (1.30 p.m.); ASC vs South Centre Railway (3 p.m).
