Vikram Pillay Academy beats CR 5-2, lifts Aga Khan trophy

Pune, July 11 (UNI) Centre forward Navid Singh and inside right Vikas Pillay slammed brilliant braces each to help Vikram Pillay Academy outplay Central Railway Pune 5-2 in a listless final and claim the coveted Aga Khan Hockey trophy in the 104th edition of the tourney that concluded here today.

Earlier in the junior division final, Krida Probhodini Balewadi earned a hard fought solitary goal win over Rakshak Sports Club in a tight final.

Vikram Pillay Academy boys, training under Indian international Vikram Pillay, gave a splendid account of themselves by producing constructive brand of hockey which left the hard-hitting Central Railway defending most of the time.

Navid Singh found the mark with a stiff drive after getting past a host of defenders in the 10th minute. Vikas Pillay increased the margin in the 22nd minute via Vikas Pillay who converted a penalty stroke. Umpire Dany Kenny of Mumbai pointed to the spot after a Vikas Pillay essay struck the foot of deep defender Ganesh Giri.

Vikas made no mistake in converting the stroke.

After the change-over, the winners added three more goal. Right winger Chandrashekar Kumar sounded the boards in the 40th minute after pivot Vinod Pillay did the spade work.

Navid Singh struck again in the 48th minute after combining well with Vinod Pillay and completed his brace. Vikas Pillay then made the issue safe in the 60th minute, working in the company of Allwyn Alexander, and also completed a fine brace.

The rivals reduced the margin via centre forward Prakash Ghumre who struck in the 34th minute and later inside left Edwin John in the 44th minute. The rivals had forced five penalty corner each but failed to take advantage of them.

In the junior division final, Krida Probhodini boys clung on to their 18th minute success notched by their right extreme Deep Patel after being put in possession by mid-fielder Ashok Shirodkar.

Rakshak tried to put the rivals under pressure by their aggression but all their efforts failed.

UNI