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Pune, 21st September 2024: Hockey Maharashtra scripted history by securing their first-ever win in their maiden appearance in the prestigious All India MCC-Murugappa Gold Cup 2024, at the Mayor Radhakrishnan Hockey Stadium, Egmore.
In a tournament, Hockey Maharashtra playing for the first time in the tournament’s 95-year history, the team did well securing a 5-4 win against heavy weights Bharat Petroleum Corporation Ltd in a Pool-B encounter.
Victory over the former champions BPCL came after rallying from a 0-2 goal deficit. Strikes from Tejas Chavan (11th) and Rajinder Singh (15th) gave BPCL the lead before Mayur Dhanavade (22nd) scored for Hockey Maharashtra and cut the score to 1-2.
Things changed dramatically in the third and fourth quarters as BPCL added another through Sunil Somwarpet (40th) to make it 1-3. From being down, Hockey Maharashtra scored four goals: a brace each by Aditya Lalage, a current junior world cupper and Stephen Swamy (45th, 46th) took the score to 5-3 in Hockey Maharashtra favour.
BPCL, however, had its chances in the final quarter, including a penalty stroke converted by Varun Kumar 5-4.
With four minutes remaining for the final whistle, BPCL had a golden opportunity to equalise. But Varun’s stroke was saved by goalkeeper Shivratna Rasal to hand Maharashtra a memorable victory.
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