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The last time the prestigious Mumbai Gold Cup hockey tournament was held four years back in 2009, Air India had to settle for a runners-up finish, losing to Army XI by a solitary goal scored by former Indian fullback Dhananjay Mahadik in the dying moments.
The airmen will be more than determined to correct that in the 48th edition of the tournament – the event is being revived after a hiatus of four years.
And the signs were pretty ominous for other teams participating in the tournament as the airmen hit the straps straightway in their opening game against Indian Navy, swamping them 6-1 to glean full points.
Air India started proceedings on a bright note, orchestrating attacks from both flanks and their efforts were rewarded when DS Darshan struck in the first half.
Olympian and India discard Shivendra Singh made an impact netting the second goal.
International Birendra Lakra made the scoreline 3-0 before another former Indian player Vikram Pillay rattled the Indian Navy cage for a commanding 4-0 lead.
The airmen boast of several former internationals in their ranks, and it was the turn of VS Vinaya to compound the woes of Indian Navy scoring the sixth goal.
Joga Singh struck another telling blow notching up the seventh goal.
Amit Kumar Goswami scored the lone solace goal for the navymen, but it was amply evident who were the deserving winners.
As many as twelve teams are taking part in this year’s edition.
Punjab & Sind Bank, Indian Oil and ONGC, SAIL, Bhopal XI and Punjab National Bank as well as four teams from Mumbai – Western Railway, Central Railway, Union Bank and Indian Air Force – are also participating in this year’s edition.
The inaugural edition of the Mumbai Gold Cup was held in 1995, when Lusitanians SC cornered glory beating Nagpur-based Bhawnagar in the final.
BSF Jalandhar have won the Mumbai Gold Cup on most occasions – eight times, while Railways collectively have bagged this winning trophy seven times.
Punjab Police have won it five times while Indian Airlines have won it four times.
Central Railway, Indian Airlines and Punjab & Sind Bank have been runners-up on most occasions – each finishing second best three times.
Surprisingly, Indian Oil, touted as one of the formidable sides in the domestic circuit, have never won the Mumbai Gold Cup – they only once finished runners-up in 2003 losing to Indian Airlines in the final.
The semifinals of the coveted tourney are slated to be held on October 26, while the final showdown is scheduled for October 27.
