Outstation teams, South Central Railway (SCR) from Secunderabad and Army XI from Bengaluru, made winning starts in the 13th PMC Bank All India Guru Tegh Bahadur Hockey tournament by getting the better of respective local outfits today.
SCR rallied from a goal down to put it across Mumbai Super League champions Indian Navy 3-1 in Pool A, while Army XI outclassed MHAL President's XI by an identical margin in Pool B.
The Navy took the lead off a penalty corner goal by Jugraj Singh before the southern railmen came into their own.
They equalised through P R Aiyappa in the first half before completing their tally by adding two more goals through Raju Pal, a superb reverse hit solo goal, and Aiyappa, who scored his second goal in the dying moments.
Earlier, Army XI dominated the match against MHAL President's XI to emerge convincing victors.
Taking some time to settle down, the fitter armymen took 1-0 lead when Binay Bhengra took control of a cross from the right to slot in.
Crossing over with a 1-0 lead, Army XI increased the lead when T B Sudhakar slid the ball in from close range off a minus pass from the right byline.
MHAL missed a good chance to make it 2-1 as Mayur Patil fluffed a 'stroke' award.
MHAL had to wait till the fag end to open their account in the 68th minute when Manpreet Singh scored with a reverse hit.
But a minute later the local team conceded a third goal when Chandan Aind selected in a long hit into the striking circle to complete the winners tally.
(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)