Considered to be virtually a national championship with top teams vying for honours, it would be difficult for any team to play their first group match as a qualifying one.

Punjab, playing their second and last Group B match, came from behind to equalise two first-half goals but Airlines had the last laugh, scoring two more in a space of three minutes towards the close.

Earlier, Punjab and Sind Bank (PSB) scored an authoritative 7-1 win over Gujarat in Group C, while Air-India overwhelmed All-India Customs and Central Excise 5-1 in Group A.

Airlines' man of the hour was India discard goalkeeper AB Subbiah. He saved 12 of the 14 goal-bound shots off penalty corners that the opposition attempted. Punjab's misery was compounded as the Airline defence rose to the occasion, especially in thesecond half, during which Punjab's dominance was pronounced.

Minutes after the match commenced, one felt that the incident which occured at the final of the Aga Khan trophy in Mumbai a few years ago, where a free- for-all ensued between Punjab Police and Airlines, would be repeated. The two players involved in that incident policeman Jasdev Singh and Shakeel Ahmed of Airlines were also in action today and the umpire concerned, Krishnamurthy of Bangalore, was sitting out as official for the tournament.The match was halted a number of times.

On at least three occasions, the umpires called the rival captains to ask their players to exercise restraint. Punjab's Baljit Singh Bhullar received a yellow card from umpire, Md Muneer.

Though Punjab were in command for most of the 70 minutes of play, the Airlines forwards made most of the chances they got, scoring twice through Rawat and Mukesh Kumar. Punjab forced 14 penalty corners, but could convert only one.

Airlines first goal came in the 23rd minute withRawat deflecting a Mohd Riaz free hit. The Virender Singh-Mukesh Kumar move enabled Sameer Dad to increase the lead.

Thereafter, Punjab were in full cry and Baljit Singh Dhillon reduced the margin when he took the 10th penalty corner. With eight minutes to go, Sarabjit Singh found the equaliser. Airlines struck through a swift counter-attack with Mukesh converting their first and only penalty corner in the 62nd minute. Punjab were still in control, but Rawat's solo effort effort settled the issue.