While Air India came from behind to beat last year's runners-up Karnataka 3-2, Punjab outplayed defending champions Haryana 4-1.
On the day, Karnataka squandered a 2-0 lead to go down to Air India, which scored the match winner just at the final hooter.
Air India were out of the frame for a major portion of the match, even as Karnataka led 2-0 with Pundalik Bellary (32nd) and Nitin Thimmaiah (44th) scoring the two goals.
But a profitable 20-minute spell at the end of the second half changed the equation completely as three quick goals were scored.
Arjun Halappa converted two penalty strokes (50th and 61st minute) before Vinaya Vokkaliga slammed home a penalty corner just as the final hooter went.
This brought the curtains down on a stormy match that saw three yellow card suspensions.
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Karnataka though were clearly a better side, they failed to maintain their composure under pressure.
Karnataka, boasting of younger, fitter and faster players, were left to rue half-a-dozen opportunities they missed, especially in the first half when they should have scored more than once before Bellary found the net off a Rafeeq Sheikh pass.
After resumption of half time, Karnataka continued in the same vein to take a 2-0 lead when Nitin Thimmaiah finished a fine solo run with a reverse hit to the boards, with goalkeeper Gurpreet Singh letting the ball through between his feet. (MORE)