Mukesh powers IA to title

JAMMU, APRIL 29: Buoyed by two important goals from Mukesh Kumar, who also bagged best player of the tournament award, Indian Airlines (IA...

JAMMU, APRIL 29: Buoyed by two important goals from Mukesh Kumar, who also bagged best player of the tournament award, Indian Airlines (IA) clinched the IV All-India Sher-i-Kashmir hockey title beating Punjab Police (PP) 4-2 in a keenly contested finals at KK Hakhu Astroturf Hockey Stadium.

Police established lead in the seventh minute when left-out Harminder Singh scored after dodging past several defenders and the rival goalkeper Jagdev Punnacha.

Shakeel Ahmed equalised (1-1) by converting a penalty corner in the 31st minute. This was the only penalty corner awarded to any team in the final. IA’s centre-forward Mukesh Kumar consolidated the team’s position in the 40th minute. He snatched the ball from the rival team’s box and in the melee that followed, slammed home (2-1).

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Police again again levelled the score when Dhillon struck in the 50th minute (2-2). Nine minutes later, Dad gave IA the lead (3-2).

Police suffered another shock in the 63rd minute which proved to be the last nail in the the coffin. It was a solo effort by Mukesh who netted the ball swiftly to seal the fate of the match (4-2).