IndianOil Hockey Team wins the 89<sup>th</sup> MCC Murugappa Gold Cup
New Delhi   27-Jul-2015

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The victorious IndianOil Hockey team

The IndianOil Hockey Team won the prestigious MCC Murugappa Gold Cup Hockey tournament for the second time in a row and retained the title. The tournament was held at Chennai from July 15 to July 26, 2015. If true grit, perseverance, commitment and team spirit is what sportsmanship is about, then the IndianOil Hockey Team displayed each of these traits and much more during the finals.

Mr. Deepak Thakur, Captain of the team, who also won the Man of the Match and Man of the Tournament with 11 goals, hit the stadium for the finals straight from the hospital bed!!

Admitted the previous day for dehydration and viral infection, Mr. Deepak urged the doctors to make him get well quickly. Notwithstanding his physical condition, he hit the arena to lead and inspire the team. Some of the main players were away for the National Camp and the tournament witnessed two other team members being injured and getting medicated.

Mr. A. Pandian, GM I/C(RS), SR, was present for the final match in the stadium to encourage and support the players. "It was a power packed performance by our team and especially Mr. Deepak Thakur. Personally I was a little tensed regarding his physical condition...but sportsmen are made that way! They cannot be stopped from their sport, irrespective of their physical conditions. It was a pleasure to watch our boys win!!"

Our team in the league stages drew with Karnataka Bank 1-1, defeated Namdhari, CAG & Mumbai XI 2-1. In the semi finals, they defeated Punjab & Sind Bank 2-1 wherein Mr. Deepak Thakur & Mr. Vikas Sharma, Typist Clerk, NRO scored one goal each. In the finals, the IndianOil team defeated Army XI- 3-2. In the finals Mr. Thakur, Manager, (PSO), Mr. Didar Singh, Typist Clerk, (PSO) & Mr. Hamza Muztaba, AM, (NRO) scored one goal each.