Suraj Shahi’s double strike proved decisive for Union Bank of India ( UBI) to stage a grand recovery and record a stunning 5-4 victory against formidable outfit and defending champions Uncle Kitchen (UK) United in a Men’s quarter-final match of the Willingdon Catholic Gymkhana’s 38th Victor D’Mello Memorial Invitational Rink Hockey Tournament 2019, organized under the auspices of the MHAL, and played at the Gymkhana’s floodlit tennis courts late Wednesday evening.
Suraj Shahi scored two goals in leading Union Bank of India to a stunning 5-4 win against Uncle’s Kitchen in a Men’s quarter-final match of the WCG’s 38th Victor D’Mello Memorial Invitational Rink Hockey Tournament .
UK United boasting of several international players including Amit Gowda, Devinder Walmiki and Yuvraj Walmiki, succumbed to the fine combined play of the spirited Union Bank side, which put a strong fight to send the favourites crashing out and to book their place in the penultimate round.
Besides Shahi’s efforts the other three goals for Union Bank came from Vinay Walmiki, Prince Chaurasia and Anand Rai while UK United scored through a brace of goals from Devinder and one each from Yuvraj and Amit.
In a fast-paced encounter, Yuvraj gave UK United an early lead but Union Bank fought back and struck two goals through Vinay and Prince to snatch a 2-1 half-time lead. Immediately on resumption, UK United scored their second goal through Devinder to draw level.
Thereafter, Union Bank hit a purple patch and struck three quick goals with Suraj hitting the target twice and Anand Rai scoring one to give the bankers a 5-2 cushion. UK United fought hard and with time running out they managed to score two quick goals in the final minute through Devinder and Amit, but fell short of scoring one more to level scores and finished on the losing side.
In another match, Ave Maria SC, Dadar scored a hard-fought 1-0 win against a young India Rush outfit. Anup Walmiki scored the all-important winner midway through the second session to seal Ave Maria’s victory and a passage to the semi-finals.
In a Women’s quarter-final encounter, Freunds Red riding of Diksha Bhosle’s twin strikes got the better of Sea View SC by a narrow 3-2 margin. Firdous Shaikh netted the third goal for Freunds, while Nadiya Shaikh scored both the goals for Sea View.
Results – Men’s Open (quarter-finals): Union Bank of India 5 (Suraj Shahi 2, Vinay Walmiki, Prince Chaurasia, Anand Rai) beat UK United 4 (Devinder Walmiki 2, Yuvraj Walmiki, Amit Gowda).
Ave Maria 1 (Anup Walmiki) beat India Rush 0.
Coorg SC 4(Somanna K.P., Achaiah D.M., Machaiah P.A., Appanna A.C.) beat Companeroes SC 3 (Oriston D’Souza, Sanket Dhotre, Sushil Ekka).
Women’s (quarter-finals): Freunds Red 3 (Diksha Bhosle 2, Firdous Shaikh) beat Sea View SC 2 (Nadiya Shaikh 2).