Chandigarh: August 8 :Playing an organised game, Western Air Command retained the Air Force Hockey Championship by defeating Central Air Command by two first-half goals without reply in the final match played at the Sector 42 Hockey Stadium here today. Both WAC goals were scored by experienced forward Kispota in the 20th and 27th minutes.
After winning the toss, WAC chose the side. They opted for the side where dust has been deposited in turf making the foothold difficult. The movement of the ball also slowed down and there were a number of slips as the players tried to sprint with the ball.
However, the WAC players had an advantage as they were using the field which has been cleared of the dust. Definately a better side, no body can take away credit from WAC’s creditable victory. The man who excelled with his fine ball control and distribution was Jasvir Singh. However, he showed poor technique or less variation while taking penalty corners. In the initial stages of the game he misdirected his penalty-corner shots. Later, Jasvir tried with powerful direct hits which CAC goalkeeper YK Pant took the PC shot on his pads to thwart WAC’s moves to convert penalty corners. WAC frittered away 15 penalty corners.
After initial probings, WAC, who enjoyed territorial supremacy, forged ahead in the 20th minute. Trapping a stray pass, Jasvir moved upfront and from top of the dee, he took a sizzling shot. Opportunist Kispota who had positioned himself near the goalpost just deflected the ball into the goal from a handshaking distance.
Against the run of play, Central Air Command had a golden opportunity to neutralise the lead. With only goalkeeper to beat, outside left DS Katoch wasted the chance by sending the ball across the goalmouth from close. Had he converted this chance, things could have been different.
WAC then got their second goal through Kispota in the 27th minute which virtually sealed the CAC’s fate.
On crossing over, CAC tried their best and entered their rivals striking circle on a number of occasions but a goal eluded them due to their poor finishing.
South Western Air Command (SWAC) secured the third position after beating Training Command (TC) by 3-1. Another classification match played today was between Maintenance Command (MC) and Eastern Air Command (EAC). MC beat EAC 2-1 to be placed at the fifth position in the tournament.
Air Cmdr SRK Nair, AOC 12 Wing Air Force, the chief guest at the closing ceremony, distributed the medals and certificates to the players of winning and the runners-up teams. Sqn Ldr Siqueria was adjudged the best player of tournament.
The names of the players selected for Air force Hockey team were also announced on the occasion, which include LAC Naveen Kumar {TC],LAC Samer Kumar [TC], LAC Arun Kumar [SWAC], Cpl Sharma[SWAC], LAC Shyam Sunder[ MC], LAC Ramaranjan [Air HQ], AC Anil Joshi[ SAC], Cpl M Singh [TAC], Sqn Ldr. Siqueria [TAC] and LAC Minhas [CAC].
The probables will attend coaching camp to prepare for the Services Hockey Championship to be organised in Mumbai in September.