Punjab overcome UP in shootout to win hockey meet

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New Delhi: Punjab edged past Uttar Pradesh in a penalty shootout to win the 2013 edition of the Alchemist IHF Federation Cup at the Shivaji Stadium here today.Both sides were tied 1-1 at the end of full time and the game was decided by penalty shootout. Punjab won 5-4.Both sides fought very hard and there was little between the two sides to choose.At half time the match was evenly poised as both sides failed to find the back of the net.UP took the lead in the 45th minute though a penalty corner goal from Diwakar Ram. But Punjab was quick to reply, scoring the equaliser in the 51st minute through a Rajin Khandulna goal.For Punjab Ajay Kumar, Parvinder Singh, Lakhwinder Singh and Ajit Pandit converted their respective penalty strokes, whereas Amandeep Singh missed his shot.Pratinder Singh and Sarabjit Singh missed their penalty strokes for UP and this cost them the title. Jagwant Singh, Pramod Kumar and Diwakar Ram found the net in the shootout.