It was third time lucky for Punjab and Sind Bank (PSB), Jallandhar.
The Punjab outfit, playing in their third final, emerged champions in the 42nd edition of the Union Bank- sponsored Bombay Gold Cup Hockey Tournament, co-sponsored by Punjab National Bank and State Bank.
Punjab and Sind Bank came up with an impressive performance and played like true champions to hand a depleted Western Railway a 3-1 defeat in the final at the BHA-Mahindra Stadium, in Mumbai on Friday.
The Punjab side forced the pace and called the shots from the start to take the match away from their opponents. Ravi Pal fired them in front in the very third minute before Ajit Pal Singh got the second goal in the 30th minute.
Mandeep Singh scored an insurance goal for the bankmen in the 61st minute after Western Railway's captain Gurusev Singh had reduced the margin in the 40th minute.
For their maiden triumph, PSB received the handsome trophy and cash prize of Rs 100,000, while Western Railway, who last won the tournament way back in 1975, had to rest content with the runners-up award of Rs 50,000.
Other awards:
Best goalkeeper: Suraj Kanta (Western Railway)
Best defender: Sandeep Singh (Punjab and Sind Bank)
Best half: Gurpreet Singh (Namdhari XI)
Best forward: Ravi Pal (Punjab and Singh Bank)
Player of the final: Ajit Pal Singh (PSB)
Player of the tournament: Suraj Kanta (Western Railway)
Top scorer: Gurusev Singh - 7 goals (Western Railway).
