Defending champions Indian Oil and last years’ runners-up Bharat Petroleum will renew their rivalry as they will be participating in the 53rd All India Bombay Gold Cup Hockey Tournament, organized by the Mumbai Hockey Association Limited (MHAL) and to be played at the MHAL-Mahindra Stadium from Monday, March 4 to Wednesday, March 13, 2019. The tournament is being conducted under the auspices of Hockey India.
A total of 12 teams, seven outstation and five local outfits will fight it out to emerge champions. The teams have been divided into four Pools of three each and the top team from each pool will qualify for the semi-finals to be played on March 12, and the finals the following day.
Besides, Indian Oil and Bharat Petroleum, the other teams from out of Mumbai are Army XI, South Central Railway, Punjab & Sind Bank, Uttar Pradesh XI and Rail Coach Factory, Kapurtala. The local challengers are Central Railway, Bombay Republicans, Bank of India, MHAL Academy and Killedar XI.
In the opening match on Monday, South Central Railway will take on Killedar XI in Pool-B league match at 2.30pm and later champions Indian Oil take on Bombay Republicans in a Pool-A encounter at 4.00pm.
The groupings – Pool-A: Indian Oil, Army XI, Bombay Republicans;
Pool-B: South Central Railway, Central Railway, Killedar XI;
Pool-C: Bharat Petroleum, Punjab & Sind Bank, Union Bank of India;
Pool-D: Uttar Pradesh XI, Rail Coach Factory, Kapurtala, MHAL Academy.