The 96th edition of the prestigious MCC-Murugappa Gold Cup hockey tournament treated fans to a dramatic and high-scoring Sunday at the SDAT-Mayor Radhakrishnan Stadium, Chennai. Across three tightly contested matches, a total of 21 goals thrilled a modest but enthusiastic crowd, showcasing the attacking flair and unpredictability the tournament is renowned for.

The day began with a Pool-A nail-biter as hosts Tamil Nadu played out an exhilarating 4-4 draw against SAI-NCOE (Bhopal). Tamil Nadu, fresh off a stunning upset over the Indian Army, started strong, taking a 2-0 lead in the opening quarter with goals from Patras Tirkey and captain B. P. Somanna.

However, the momentum shifted quickly in the second quarter, with SAI-NCOE mounting a fierce comeback. Mohammad Zaid Khan, Manjeet, and Manish Sahani scored in quick succession to expose Tamil Nadu’s defensive lapses and turn the game on its head.

Determined to recover, Tamil Nadu tightened up in the third quarter. Somanna’s leadership shone through again, netting an equalizer from a penalty corner to make it 3-3. Just minutes later, Balachandar pounced on a rebound to push Tamil Nadu ahead. But the lead was short-lived, as Amit Yadav equalized in the 47th minute for SAI-NCOE, sealing a thrilling 4-4 stalemate.

In Pool-B action, Indian Navy overpowered Karnataka 4-2, riding on a clinical hat-trick by Sushil Dhanwar, who struck in the 3rd, 20th, and 34th minutes. Prashanth added a late goal to seal the result, while Karnataka’s Bhrath Mahalingppa and G. Vishwas kept the scoreline respectable with a goal apiece.

The day’s final clash saw the Malaysian junior team edge out a relentless CBDT side in a gripping 4-3 victory. Malaysia dazzled with their swift flank play and resilience under pressure. After being tested throughout, they found a dramatic winner in the final minute through Shakir Azimuddin, who blasted a low shot off a penalty corner to settle the contest.

Sunday’s Results:

• Pool A: Tamil Nadu 4 (Tirkey 3, Somanna 15 & 41, Balachandar 44) drew with SAI-NCOE 4 (Zaid Khan 20, Manjeet 26, Sahani 29, Yadav 47)

• Pool B: Indian Navy 4 (Dhanwar 3, 20, 34, Prashanth 53) beat Karnataka 2 (Mahalingppa 12, Vishwas 35)

• Pool B: Malaysia 4 (Danish Aiman 20, Harris Iskandar 41, Azimuddin 54 & 60) beat CBDT 3 (Gowda 24, Mor 27, Choudhary 57)

With more action to come, the tournament promises to keep the excitement alive as teams battle for glory.