Defending champions Punjab got off to a rollicking start in the third Hockey India Senior Men National Championship, tharshing Gujarat 30-0 in their opening league match of Pool A at Shiv Chhatrapati Shivaji Sports Complex here today.
Punjab started their game on attacking note and successfully built pressure on their opponents. Forward Vikramjit Singh scored maximum seven goals for Punjab followed by Simranjit Singh (6), Inderjeet Singh (5), Sarvanjit Singh (4), Ravi Pal (3), Jarnail Singh (3), Vikas Sharma (1) and Sandeep Singh (1).
In a Pool B game, Air India overwhelmed Tripura 13-0 to maintain their unbeaten run. For Air India, skipper Arjun Halappa and Swamy Vinaya scored three goals each followed by Vikram Pillay (2), Affan Yousuf (2), Pradhan Somanna (2) and Subbaiah Darshan (1).
In the other Pool B match, Madhya Pradesh Hockey Academy defeated Puducherry 6-1. Vikas Chaudhary and Mohammad Nizamuddin scored twice each for MPHA followed by a goal each from Rinku Yadav and Raju Singh.
Sashastra Seema Bal registered their first win in Pool F, defeating Jammu & Kashmir 2-0. Vinay Bishwakarma and Gunamai Singh) scored a goal each for SSB.
In Pool D, Uttar Pradesh drew 2-2 with Andaman & Nicobar while Mumbai Hockey Association routed hosts Hockey Maharashtra 2-1.
In Pool H, Tamil Nadu spoanked Rajasthan 20-0.
