Unbeaten GST Customs, Hockey Lovers book Quarter Final spots in 3rd MJ Cup Invitational Hockey Tournament in Pune 

Pune, 18 December 2023: GST Customs, Pune and Hockey Lovers Club and Central Railway Club Pune joined Krida Prabodhini in the last-8 stage of the 3rd MJ Cup Invitational Hockey Tournament (Men and Women) 2023 at the Maj. Dhyanchand Hockey Stadium at the Nehrunagar-Pimpri on Monday.

All qualifiers, so far, have remained unbeaten it their respective pools to book their slot.

The tournament being held under the aegis of Hockey Maharashtra and organized by Excellency Hockey Academy in joint association with the Dhanraj Pillay Foundation.

Pool-C had GST Customs, Pune join Krida Prabodhini in the quarterfinals after they downed Hockey Lovers Academy (HLS) 6-2. A double goal feat by Stephan Swami (5th, 42nd) and Felix Baa (23rd, 59th) made up the tally after Aniket Gurav (20th) and Abdul Salamani (55th) netted one each.

For Hockey Lovers Academy (HLA) Fajar Shaikh (19th) and Saryaj Alam (37th) helped their team put up a fight unto the halfway stage which enabled them to trail 2-3. However, it was GST Customs who finally walked home winners.

Pool-B had Hockey Lovers Club (HLC) join Central Railway in the quarterfinals. Hockey Lovers made it two wins in a row to end Mumbai Republicans challenge 3-1. The winners struck all goals in the first half as Nikhil Bhosale (18th, 41st) and a penalty corner conversion by Yash Angir (23rd) was enough to seal the knock-out berth. Shreekishan Chaurisiya (42nd) converted a penalty corner for the Mumbai team to narrow the margin.

On Sunday, Central Railway Pune beat Mumbai Republicans 3-1.    

In the women’s section, PCMC Hockey Academy and Mumbai Republicans made it to the semifinals after both logged wins over J.J Academy in their Pool-B openers.

In the Pool-B top of the table clash, PCMC Hockey Academy logged a 4-0 win over Mumbai Republicans in a mid-afternoon Monday encounter. Shalili Sakure (12th) Durga Shinde (29th) and a two-goal burst by Sanika Mane (39th, 53th) was enough to win and top Pool-B.

In Pool-A, hosts Excellency Hockey Academy and Krida Prabodhini played out a 0-0 draw to split points.

RESULTS

Pool-C: GST Customs Pune: 6 (Stephan Swami 5th, 42nd – p.c; Aniket Gurav 20th; Felix Baa 23rd, 59th; Abdul Salamani 55th) bt Hockey Lovers Academy: 2 (Fajar Shaikh 19th; Saryaj Alam 37th). HT: 3-2

Pool-B: Hockey Lovers Club: 3 (Nikhil Bhosale 18th, 41st; Yash Angir 23rd – p.c) bt Mumbai Republicans: 1 (Shreekishan Chaurisiya 42nd – p.c). HT: 2-0

Pool-A: Excellency Hockey Academy bt Rovers Academy- Forfeited the match

Women, Pool-A: Excellency Hockey Academy: 0 drew with Krida Prabodhini: HT: 0-0

Women Pool-B: PCMC Academy: 4 (Shalili Sakure 12 – p.c; Durga Shinde 29th; Sanika Mane 39th 53th) bt Mumbai Republicans: 0. HT: 2-0

SUNDAY LATE

Pool-B: Hockey Lovers Club: 5 (Yash Angir 9th – p.c, 52nd – p.s; Nihal Goratkar 34th – p.c; Swapnil Garsund 35th; Siddharth Garsund 58th) bt Kids XI Club: 1 (Akash Sawant 48th – p.c). HT: 1-0

Pool-B: Central Railway Pune: 3 (Shreyash D 29th; Harish Shingadi 47th, Ganesh Patil 50th – p.c) bt Mumbai Republicans: 1 (Saurabh Mayekar 40th – p.s). HT: 1-0