Gurjinder stars in Kalinga Lancers’ win
   Date :23-Jan-2017


BHUBANESWAR,

Jan 22,

(Agencies),

Gurjinder Singh converted a brilliant penalty corner to hand Kalinga Lancers a 1-0 win against Delhi Waveriders, giving last year’s finalists a great start to this year’s Coal India Hockey India League, on Sunday.


Playing in front of their home crowd, Kalinga Lancers got off to a dominating start. But Delhi Waveriders, led by dragflick specialist Rupinder Pal Singh, gained in confidence as the match progressed but failed to convert some easy chances that cost them the match.


It was an entertaining first quarter that saw great display of man-to-man marking by both team captains, Moritz Fuerste and Rupinder Pal Singh, who left little room for their opponents to penetrate their respective circles. Australian Tom Craig, playing his first season of Coal India HIL, too displayed brilliant dribbling abilities that kept the home crowd on the edge of their seats.


With the scoreboard reading 0-0, the Kalinga Lancers came out all guns blazing in the final quarter and team captain Moritz Fuerste showed exactly why he is one of the most sought after players in HIL by earning his team their first penalty corner of the match. Gurjinder did not let his captain down as he swiftly put the ball past Vincent Vanasch, the Delhi Waveriders goalkeeper.