In another Pool A outing Border Security Force of Jalandhar eked out a narrow 2-1 victory. Indian Airlines also scored an identical 2-1 victory over Army XI in a Pool B match.

After today's matches, Punjab Police and Border Security Force from Pool A and Punjab and Sind Bank of Delhi from Pool B have brightened their chances of qualifying for the semi-finals. Punjab Police have so far secured six points from three matches while BSF and Punjab and Sind Bank have also logged six points apiece from two outings each.

The Punjab Police were in total command against Russian XI. Their forwards repeatedly penetrated the Russian defence like a hotknife through butter. The Russians put up a weak defence which caved in at a slightest threat from the Punjab Police forwards. The halfline was bereft of ideals. The Russian forwards could not go beyond 25-yard-line.

Punjab Police led 5-1 at half time. Baljit Singh Bhullar (5th, 26th, 34th, 62nd), Sarabjit Singh Sarpanch (7th), Jagdev Singh (13th) and Daljit Dhillon (44th, 54th, 57th and 59th). The face-saving goal for Russian XI was scored by inside-left Ivanova Leor who converted a penalty stroke in the 27th minute.

The BSF-Air India match ended in a listless and goalless draw. After the lemon break, leftback Cristopher Ekka converted a penalty corner in the 47th minute to give his team the lead. Three minutes later, Air India had a chance to neutralise the lead but their skipper Surinder Kundu wasted a penalty stroke. However, they got the equaliser in the 59th minute through Davinder Kumar. Centre-forward Shinu Herenz clinched the match-winner for BSF with a solo effort.

In a Pool `B' match, IndianAirlines, after wasting penalty corners in the first 20 minutes, forged ahead through outside-left Brojan Singh. Indian Airlines increased the margin in the 65th minute through Altaf-ur-Rehman. Army XI got their lone goal in the 67th minute through leftback KK Poonacha who converted their sixth penalty corner.