Indian Oil Corporation (IOC) came back from a two-goal deficit twice to overcome defending champion and favourite Railways Sports Promotion Board in the shootouts and win the third Hockey India senior women’s inter-department championship at the Shivaji Stadium here on Tuesday.
For long the unchallenged leader in domestic women’s hockey, Railways was stunned by the fightback from a team that was formed only last year and was participating in its first ever competition. With both sides boasting of the cream of Indian women’s hockey including a majority of national team players, it was heartening to see a sizeable crowd cheering the teams, something that has become a rarity in Delhi hockey.
Railways had the edge in experience and started strongly, attacking early and not allowing IOC any space with a tight defence.
