Playing in Mumbai after almost a decade, Punjab Police, Jalandhar made a winning return as they ground out a hard-fought 1-0 win against Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited (BPCL), Mumbai. The two sides played each other in a Pool-A league match of the 13th PMC Bank-Guru Tegh Bahadur Gold Cup All India Hockey Tournament at the MHAL-Mahindra Stadium, Churchgate on Tuesday.

Sarvanjit Singh scored the decisive winning goal when he converted a penalty stroke in the 29th minute. Umpire Nishan J. Mohanty awarded Punjab Police the penalty stroke when BPCL defender Sukhman Singh blocked with his body a Dupinder Deep Singh goal-bound hit on the goal line.

Punjab Police, who had a  couple of Olympians and former internationals in their ranks, encountered quite a strong challenge from a depleted BPCL outfit. Several of BPCL’s regular players are currently in the Indian camp.

Central Railway looked to be a jaded lot and struggled to keep pace with the opposition and lacked fitness to play in the hot, humid conditions and caved in meekly.