Clash of Titans: Railways and Navy Lock Horns in Murugappa Hockey Showdown

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The stage is set for a thrilling conclusion to the 96th MCC-Murugappa Gold Cup Hockey Tournament in Chennai, as defending champions Indian Railways face Indian Navy in a fiercely-contested encounter. Both teams stormed into the final with dominating semifinals, promising a match full of pace, precision, and pride.

Semifinal highlights:

Indian Railways routed Indian Oil Corporation 7-1 in a one-sided match, with Darshan Gawkar and Pankaj Rawat being the stars with a hat-trick by Rawat
Indian Navy recorded a historic 2-0 win over Indian Army in their first-ever final appearance in the tournament
Ashish Topno and Rajat Minz's targets sealed the victory of Navy, highlighting their tactical discipline and youthful energy

Team dynamics and game spirit

Railways, who were seeking a hat-trick of titles, came to the party with their A-game after a poor group phase
Surprise package, Navy, has been the most reliable team till date, winning all pool matches and defeating seasoned opponents
The final one promises a clash of styles: Railways' experience and firepower vs. Navy's agility and hunger

Players to watch

Pankaj Rawat (Railways): lethal on penalty corners and field goals
Ashish Topno (Navy): key to converting set pieces
Rajat Minz (Navy): also famous for clutch finishes on pressure moments

The third-place match will be played on Sunday at SDAT-Mayor Radhakrishnan Stadium, with the supporters eagerly anticipating a match worthy of the tournament level.

Source: The Hindu, Sportstar, DT Next, MSN News