Punjab XI took a flying start in their opening match of the Surjit Singh Memorial Hockey Tournament

Jalandhar: Punjab XI took a flying start in their opening match of the ongoing 31^st Surjit Singh Memorial Hockey Tournament crushing Punjab National Bank (India) 4-1 at the Olympian Surjit Singh Hockey Stadium here on Wednesday.

Punjab XI comprising six Olympians demonstrated controlled and fast hockey in their match and defeated their opponents with sheer experience and skill. Punjab National Bank (India) fought hard and never lost hope to reduce the margin. The visitors netted a field goal in the first minute through forward Mohammed Dilbar. They scored their second goal on a penalty corner which forward Toseeq Ahmed netted on a rebound in the 16^thminute. At half time the score was 2-0. In the second half the visitors looked complacent to which the home team took full advantage and reduced the lead through Lakhwinder Singh who successfully converted a penalty corner in the 45^thminute. Punjab XI scored two more field goals in a span of six minutes. First Waqas Sharif netted the ball on a beautiful pass from Shafqat Rasool in the 52^nd minute then Mohammed Dilbar scored the fourth, his second) in the 58^th minute.

Punjab National Bank (India) got three penalty corners but could convert only one. Goalkeeper Imran Shah bravely stopped two certain goals on his chest. G. S. Sangha and Anil Kumar supervised the match. Punjab XI will play its second match on 6^th November (Thursday) against Oil & Natural Gas Corporation, Delhi.