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The first semifinal between Durgapur and Jumit Jugut Gaota Jhapandanga was a one sided affair with Jumit Jugut Gaota scoring an easy 4-0 win. Madhushri Tudu scored a hattrick and Anjali Soren completed the tally. The second semifinal was more evenly fought and Bharani beat Childrens’ Welfare Home 2-0, the scorers being Rakhi Sharma and Rezina Khatoon.
The third position play off between Durgapur and the Childrens’ Welfare Home was a goalless draw.
The final between Bharani and the Jumit Jugut Gaota arguably the strongest team in Bengal at present was a real upset as the underdogs Bharani took an early lead through Kamini Pradhan. Madhushri Tudu of Jumit Jugut Gaota restored parity after 5 minutes (1-1). To the utter surprise of the spectators the Rezina Khatoon put Bharani in the lead 2-1 a minute before the half time whistle. The second half started with Bharani responding each desperate attack of Jumit Jugut Gaota for an equalizer with a counterattack. Early in the second half Bharani took a 3-1 lead through a neat goal by Rezina Khatoon. The crowd roared in excitement reminding this hockey aficionado of the Calcutta Hockey of the seventies. Anjali Tudu of Jumit Jugut Gaota struck in the dying minutes of the game reducing Bharani’s lead (3-2) but it was too late. 3-2 was the final score in favour of Bharani, the Champions.
Bharani emerged the Champions with Jumit Jugut Gaota ending up with the runners up trophy. Durgapur and Childrens’ Welfare Home finished joint third. The Fair Play Trophy went to Durgapur. Shadhana Khatoon of Bharani was judged the best player of the tournament, while the highest scorers were Madhushri Tudu of Jumit Jugut Gaota and Puja Shafi of Durgapur with five goals each. The Surinder Memorial trophy was presented by Ms Farzana Alam, the Deputy Mayor while the runner up trophy was presented to Jumit Jugut Gaota Jhapandanga by Mr K K Jaiswal the Commissioner of Service Tax. Also present were the 1956 Olympics football squad captain Mr Badru Banerjee, and dignitaries Mr Salil Bose, Secretary of the Bengal Hockey Association, Mr Swapan Banerjee Vice President of the Bengal Hockey Association, Mr Khalid Hussain, Assistant Secretary of the Bengal Hockey Association, Mr Farid Khan General Secretary of the Minorities Cell, Trinamool Congress, West Bengal.
The spectators went home satisfied after being dished out a visual treat of lovely hockey. The credit of organizing the tournament undoubtedly goes to the duo of Ms Paramjit Kaur Bhattacharya and Ms Bharati Divgikar, the two livewires who worked tirelessly to make the tournament a success. They lessened the number of participating teams this year but elevated the standard of hockey.
