LUCKNOW, Feb 2: Uttar pradesh retained the Kuber All India prize money KD Singh Babu Invitation sub-junior hockey tournament for the winners cash prize of Rs 20,000 defeating Punjab 2-1, at the KD Singh Babu Stadium here today. Punjab received the runners-up cash prize of Rs 15,000.Earlier, Mumbai defeated West Bengal 4-2, in a hardline match for the third place.
Punjab boys took the lead in the 25th minute when Ravinder Singh converted the third penalty corner to give his team the 1-0 lead. In the second half both the teams made attacks and counter attacks but failed to score any goal. Uttar Pradesh's equaliser came in the 59th minute when Promod Kumar scored the goal off a pass from Amit Singh to level the score 1-1. But Punjab protested against the decision, claiming the ball was carried. The game was held up for five minutes.
UP's Harikesh Singh scored the winning goal in the 64th minute. Punjab boys made a good move in the 66th minute when Ravinder Singh's sure goal was saved by custodian SunilGupta. Punjab boys again forced a penalty corner just before the final whistle but could not make any use of it.
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