The defending champions, Indian Railways, dominated the 95th MCC-Murugappa Gold Cup All-India hockey tournament with a thrilling 5-4 win against BPCL on Wednesday. This victory secured their spot in the semifinals with a match to spare. Their next opponent will be Tamil Nadu in their final Pool A match on Thursday.
The Army also secured their place in the semifinals with a 2-1 victory over Maharashtra. They have earned a spot alongside the defending champions in the semifinals, setting the stage for an exciting clash against the victors of Pool B.
The match between Railways and BPCL was a thrilling encounter with no shortage of excitement. Railways held a 4-2 lead heading into the fourth quarter, but BPCL mounted a fierce comeback, earning three consecutive penalty corners at the beginning of the final quarter. Despite the pressure, Railways held their ground and maintained their lead.
BPCL refused to give up and equalised the score with three minutes remaining thanks to a brace from former international Devender Walmiki. However, Railways had the last laugh when Darshan Gawkar converted a crucial goal, securing their victory and a spot in the semifinals.
The semifinals are shaping up to be exciting encounters: Railways will face Tamil Nadu in Pool A, while the other semifinal will see IOC take on Odisha from Pool B. These matches promise to be highly competitive as the teams battle for a place in the final.
