Hockey: VBSPU Jaunpur, SPU Pune into semis

Veer Bahadur Singh Purvanchal (VBSP) University, Jaunpur and Savitribai Phule University, Pune registered hard-fought wins and ended the challenge of both Bangalore teams and booked themselves semi-final berths in the SNBP - 28th Nehru All-India Inter-University Hockey Tournament (Inter-Zonal Final)

Hockey: VBSPU Jaunpur, SPU Pune into semis
Savitribai Phule Pune University (Orange) and Bangalore University, Bangalore (White) in action

Taleb Shah nets winner for home team

Bangalore teams bite the dust

PUNE: Veer Bahadur Singh Purvanchal (VBSP) University, Jaunpur and Savitribai Phule Pune University registered hard-fought wins and ended the challenge of both Bangalore teams and booked themselves semi-final berths in the SNBP - 28th Nehru All-India Inter-University Hockey Tournament (Inter-Zonal Final) at the Major Dhyan Chand Hockey Stadium, Nehrunagar, Pimpri on Tuesday.

The tournament is being conducted in collaboration with the Association of Indian Universities (AIU), under the aegis of Hockey India and the title sponsored by SNBP Group of Institutes, Pune.

Savitribai Phule Pune University pipped Bangalore University, Bangalore 1-0, while VBSP, Jaunpur ended last year’s third-place finisher Bangalore City University hopes with a 3-2 win in the shoot-out after sharing honours 2-2 at full time.

Home side Pune University played their hearts out to arrest Bangalore University’s run and dominated proceedings. Into the second quarter and Taleb Shah (30th) had his crisp reverse hit beat the Bangalore University goalkeeper Shreyas Somaiah hands down.

Bangalore University had a golden chance through Chetan MK in the third quarter but he missed his try on an open goal completely.

Pune University later survived three penalty-corners to hold off the last-minute surge from Bangalore University.

In the first quarterfinal, VBSP, Jaunpur and Bangalore City University were locked goalless in the first quarter, before Bangalore City forced the lead off a quick counterattack that ended in Gokavi Vasanth Kumar (18th) scoring.

VBSP University, Jaunpur (White) and Bangalore City University, Bangalore (Black Yellow) in action

Surviving a penalty corner, Bangalore City were quick in their transition that had Mutagar Haresh, on the far right in the deep, do well to swap a pass to an unmarked Gokavi, who reversed his attempt past goalkeeper Nigam Prateek 1-0.

VBSP University took their time and worked their equaliser off an indirect penalty corner. Captain Uttam Singh sighting Manish Sahani (26th) on the left switched intelligently to see his teammate score past Ravi Kumar (1-1).

In the second half, VBSP, Jaunpur took the lead in the fourth quarter when Vejendra Singh (52nd) scored off a reflexive deflection after Uttam Singh drove hard from inside the circle (2-1).

Bangalore City levelled five minutes later through Mutagar Haresh (57th) to end full time at 2-2.

In the shootout, Suraj Shahi, Vejendra Singh, Uttam Singh scored for VBSP University, while Ganesh Majji and Mutagar Haresh scored for Bangalore City.

Arun Shahani and Gagan Rajbhar missed for Jaunpur, while Bangalore had Pavan, Bharat and Punith miss their attempts.

RESULTS

QF1: Veer Bahadur Singh Purvanchal (VBSP) University, Jaunpur: 2 (3) (Manish Sahani 26th; Vejendra Singh 52nd; Suraj Shahi, Vejendra Singh, Uttam Singh) bt Bangalore City University, Bengaluru: 2 (2) (Gokavi Vasanth Kumar 18th; Haresh Mutagar 57th; Ganesh Majji and Mutagar Haresh). HT: 1-1

QF2: Savitribai Phule Pune University: 1 (Taleb Shah 30th) bt Bangalore University, Bengaluru: 0. HT: 1-0 

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THURSDAY’S FIXTURES

QF3: Sambalpur University, Sambalpur vs Guru Nanak Dev University, Amritsar- 12.30 p.m

QF4: Punjabi University, Patiala vs Lovely Professional University, Phagwara- 2.30 p.m