PSPB overcome SAI, CAG edge PNB, Police pip FCI, RSPB have it easy in quarterfinals

Last year’s champions Petroleum Sports Promotion Board (PSPB) survived a might scare before edging Sports Authority of India (SAI) 3-2 in a pulsating quarterfinal encounter of the 6th Hockey India Senior Men Inter-Department National Championship 2026 at the Gachibowli Hockey Stadium in Hyderabad on Friday.

Last year’s runners-up Comptroller & Auditor General of India (CAG) overcame a fighting Punjab National Bank 4-3 in another thrilling encounter, while All India Police Sports Control Board edged Food Corporation of India (FCI) 4-3 in the shootout after both teams were locked 2-2 in regular time.

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Railway Sports Promotion Board (RSPB) had the easiest of games in the quarterfinals as they eased past Central Board of Direct Taxes with a 2-0 verdict.

SAI take early lead but PSPB come back strongly

After a barren first quarter where both teams tested each other, SAI struck twice in the span of seven minutes in the second quarter to go into the break with a handy 2-0 lead. Sachin Dungdung was the hero of those seven minutes as he struck twice. He scored off a penalty corner in the 22nd minute and repeated it in the 29th minute.

PSPB overcome SAI 3-2 in quarterfinals of the 6th Hockey India Senior Men Inter-Department National Championship 2026 at the Gachibowli Hockey Stadium in Hyderabad on Friday. Pics: Mohd Hadi

A stung PSPB players regrouped after the break and changed their strategy. They went on the aggression and that paid rich dividends.

Manpreet struck in the 35th minute to reduce the margin and bring PSPB back into the game. However, SAI were determined to hold on to their lead and tightened up their defence.

But PSPB broke through their defence in the 45th minute as Varun Kumar found the equalizer. A charged up PSPB upped the ante in search of the winner and were rewarded in the 55th minute as Gurjot Singh sounded the board and ensured PSPB’s entry into the semifinal.

Railway have it easy against CBDT

Railway Sports Promotion Board (RSPB) scored a comfortable 2-0 win over Central Board of Direct Taxes to reach the last four.

The Taxmen kept the Railway forwards on a tight leash for most part of the match. They denied the strong side a goal till the 41st minute.

After a barren first-half, Railway turned up the pressure on their rivals. That paid dividends as the Taxes defence began to seem vulnerable. Railway finally got the breakthrough in the 41st minute through the stick of Simranjot Singh, who scored off a penalty corner.

Railway Sports Promotion Board (RSPB) scored a comfortable 2-0 win over Central Board of Direct Taxes to reach the last four

Nine minutes later, Gursahibjit Singh sealed the deal with a field goal as Railway reached the semifinals.

CAG edge fighting PNB

Last year’s runners-up Comptroller & Auditor General of India (CAG) overcame a fighting Punjab National Bank 4-3 to enter the semifinals.

Punjab National Bank took an early lead as Prikshit Panchal sounded the board in the 13th minute. The bankmen then held on to their slender lead till the verge of the end of first half.

CAG then got two goals on either side of the break to get their momentum going. Ganesh Majji found the equalizer for CAG in the 30th minute and upon resumption Deepak put CAG into the lead.

Six minutes later, CAG took a 3-1 lead with Angad Bir Singh breaching the rival citadel. However, PNB reduced the margin in the 45th minute through Neeraj’s penalty corner conversion.

Last year’s runners-up Comptroller & Auditor General of India (CAG) overcame a fighting Punjab National Bank 4-3 to enter the semifinals

CAG were in no mood to let go of the advantage and attacked their rivals. Skipper Parmod converted another penalty corner to give CAG a 4-2 lead.

A fighting PNB did not give up and found their third goal when Abhimanyu scored in the 55th minute but CAG held firm to the end and emerged victorious.

Police shoot-out FCI

In the last quarterfinal, All India Police Sports Control Board edged Food Corporation of India (FCI), who had finished fourth last year, 4-3 in the shootout after both teams were locked 2-2 at end of regulation time.

In a see-saw battle, Police took the lead in the 25th minute as Shamsher Singh struck. FCI, however, found the equalizer when Navraj Singh scored in the 33rd minute.

Mohammad Haris restored Police’s lead in the 35th minute but FCI again got the equalizer in the 48th minute through the stick work of Paramvir Singh.

All India Police Sports Control Board edged Food Corporation of India (FCI), who had finished fourth last year, 4-3 in the shootout after both teams were locked 2-2 at end of regulation time

With both sides ending in a 2-2 deadlock, the shoot-out was resorted to. Police managed to pip FCI 4-3 and book their spot in the last four.

Results: Petroleum Sports Promotion Board (PSPB) 3 (Manpreet 35th, Varun Kumar 45th, Gurjot Singh 55th) beat Sports Authority of India 2 (Sachin Dungdung 22nd, 29th).

Railway Sports Promotion Board 2 (Simranjot Singh 41st, Gursahibjit Singh 50th) beat Central Board of Direct Taxes 0.

Comptroller & Auditor General of India 4 (Ganesh Majji 30th, Deepak 31st, Angad Bir Singh 37th, Parmod 48th) beat Punjab National Bank 3 (Prikshit Panchal 13th, Neeraj 45th, Abhimanyu 55th).

All India Police Sports Control Board 2 (Shamsher Singh 25th, Mohammad Haris 35) beat Food Corporation of India 3 (Navraj Singh 33rd, Paramvir Singh 48th). Shoot-out: Police 4 – FCI 3.