With Saturday’s loss, the Indian Navy exited the tournament without a single win to its credit from the four matches it played. But even though it lost in its last match against India A, the Indian Navy gave a much improved display.
TFM Desk
Indian A defeated Indian Navy 6-2 in the 1st ground while India B (Manipur) won over the USA team 9-5 in the 2nd ground on the fifth day of the 14th Manipur Polo International tournament organized by the Manipur Horse Riding and Polo Association at Mapal Kangjeibung on Saturday, November 26.
With Saturday’s loss, the Indian Navy exited the tournament without a single win to its credit from the four matches it played. But even though it lost in its last match against India A, the Indian Navy gave a much improved display, said a press note issued by MHRPA Tournament Media.
The India A team opened its account with a goal in the 6.20th minute in the 1st chukker from Ranshay Purohit . Hurr-Ali then increased the lead in the 2nd chukker to 2-0 for India A as Indian Navy failed to to find the goal in both the chukkers.
In the 3rd chukker, both the teams drew a blank. But in the 4th chukker, Indian swamped the Navy team with as many as four goals, two coming from Hurr-Ali and one each from Ranshay Purohit and Santosh. Indian Navy managed to pull back two goals, both scored by Cdr Panchal but by then it was too late for recovery leaving India A winner by 6-2.
In the 2nd match, USA was the first to draw blood as Jorge Vasquez scored in the 1.40th minute of the 1st chukker. P Ojit leveled the score for Manipur in the 2.00nd minute. JP Vasquez scored for the USA team in the 3.13th and T Pradeepkumar replied with a goal from a beautifully executed 30 yards hit in the 3.40th minute to at the end the chukker with both teams level at 2 goals each.
Manipur captain T Pradeepkumar scored from 30 yards hit (awarded at the end of 1st chukker) in the .04th minute of the 2nd chukker. P Ojit struck twice in this chukker (.14th minute and .35th minute) while L Atangba added another in the 6.16th minute for Manipur to surge ahead 6-2, even as the USA team failed to add their tally in this chukker.
The honours were evenly shared in the 3rd chukker, as both the teams scored one goal each. P Ojit scored for Manipur in the 7.05th minute while JP Vasquez scored for the USA team in the 4.21 minute. At the end of the 3rd chukker, Manipur led 7-3 against the USA team.
L Rohit who came in place of Thomson scored in the 2.55th minute of the last chukker while L Atangba scored another goal for Manipur in the 3.55th minute. For the USA team, Will Boland and JP Vasquez scored in the 4.17th and 5.13rd minute respectively. The final score Manipur 9 goals and USA 5 Goals.
On November 27, 2022, the sixth day of the 14th Manipur Polo International, USA will take on India A while UK will clash with India B (Manipur).