The Indian Army’s progression to the semifinals of the 97th All-India
The fate of the Army side now rests on the result of the upcoming match between Indian Railways and Punjab National Bank (PNB). For PNB to leapfrog the Army and claim the remaining semifinal spot, they must secure a victory by a margin of at least seven goals. Meanwhile, in Pool-B, Bharat Petroleum Corporation Ltd (BPCL) has already confirmed their qualification, leaving the Indian Navy and the Malaysian junior team to battle for the final position in their respective upcoming clash.
A Tactical Stalemate at Mayor Radhakrishnan Stadium
The contest between IOCL and the Indian Army proved to be a tightly contested affair, with both sides trading leads before eventually settling for a point apiece. IOCL broke the deadlock in the 29th minute when Sunil Yadav successfully converted a penalty stroke. The opportunity arose after a defensive infringement by the Army’s Niraj Waribam, who was adjudged to have impeded S.K. Uthappa near the goal.
The Army’s response was swift, as they leveled the score just one minute later. Cyril Lugun capitalized on a penalty corner, expertly converting a delivery from Rohit Irengbam to restore parity before the halftime interval. The momentum shifted in favor of the Army in the 43rd minute when they were awarded a penalty stroke. The decision followed a goal-line clearance by defender Vikramjit Singh, whose leg blocked a drag-flick from Lugun. Jobanpreet Singh stepped up to convert the stroke, handing the Army a 2-1 advantage.
However, IOCL refused to concede defeat and fought back to equalize in the 49th minute. S.K. Uthappa provided the finishing touch to a precise long-range pass from V.R. Raghunath, securing the 2-2 draw. Despite both teams earning penalty corners in the final stages of the match, neither side could find a decisive winner. In other tournament action, the Hockey Unit of Tamil Nadu secured a 4-2 victory over the Malaysian junior team, while BPCL and the Indian Navy played out an entertaining 5-5 draw.
