The Punjab National Bank (PNB) emerged as champion of the 8th Hockey India B Division Senior Men’s National Championship 2018 in Imphal on Sunday.
In the final match played at Khuman Lampak astro turf hockey stadium here, PNB defeated its rival Canara Bank by 2-0 goals. Sukhjeet Singh and Dalal Satender scored the winning goals in the 38th and 57th minutes of the final match.
Interestingly host Manipur and Assam hockey teams could not enter the quarter finals of the tournament organized under the aegis of Hockey India. A total of 32 teams from across the country participated in this national tournament.
Attending the closing function of the hockey tournament as chief guest, state education and labour minister Th Radheshyam Singh recalled the potentials of the state players in the field of hockey.
The first Olympian sportsperson from Manipur was the hockey goal keeper P Nilakomol when he played for India in Los Angeles Olympics in 1984.
Ruling MLAs, N Indrajit (Kshetrigao), H Dingo (Sekmai), N Praveen, director of youth affairs and sports, Hockey India Treasurer Tapan Kumar Das, Managing Director Dr Th Dhabali of Babina Health care and Industries Pvt. Ltd. and officials of Hockey India and Manipur Hockey also attended the closing ceremony of the national tourney.
The two finalist teams are now entitled to take part in the upcoming A division National hockey tournaments in the country. There is a tradition of selecting national level Indian hockey team players from the A division level teams.
It may be noted Manipur deputy chief minister Y Joykumar opened the tournament on January 7.
Leave a comment