Punjab National Bank rode on goalkeeper Jasvir Singh's heroics in the shootout to pip four-time defending champions Indian Oil Corporation and win their maiden Beighton Cup hockey title here today.
"Hockey is to Punjab, like cricket is to Mumbai and football to Bengal... I congratulate the proud winners," former India captain Sourav Ganguly, a regular at the premier tournament's final since last year, said handing over the Trophy to PNB.
In a repeat of last year's final, both the teams were locked 1-1 in the regulation time with former international Deepak Thakur of IOC sounding the board within eight minutes of Satpal Gulia's penalty corner conversion in the 30th minute.
In the shootout, Jasvir thwarted the attempts of Roshan Minz and Imran Khan by displaying brilliant diving skills to hand PNB a 3-2 lead before Naveen Antil struck the decisive goal to exact a sweet revenge on the seven-time finalists.
Antil displayed cool composure and waited for IOC's goalkeeper Baljit Singh Dadiwal to dive before making a spectacular angular finish to start the celebration.
Arjun Artil struck twice and Hardeep Singh once for PNB in the shootout as they were benefited from a foul committed by the IOC goalkeeper in the third attempt.
Artil struck his second in the ensuing penalty corner to help PNB level IOC 2-2 after three attempts in the shootout.
IOC were leading 2-1 at one stage after Gaganjeet Singh and Bikramjit Kant's shootout conversions that came after the miss by PNB captain Shivdeep Singh but only to falter in the end.
