CHENNAI, India (62nd Sr. National Championships): Punjab put paid to the hopes of Tamil Nadu with a 70-62 win in the gold medal game of the men’s section, while Indian Railways pulled away in the fourth quarter to beat a feisty Chattisgarh 94-70 in the women’s final in the 62nd Senior National Championships on Saturday.

Punjab dominated the better part of the game after surging ahead 12-5 early in the game, but Tamil Nadu rallied to cut the deficit to three early in the fourth quarter. But with internationals Jagdeep Singh and Talwinderjith Singh at hand to deliver Punjab regained control and laid their hands on the Todd memorial trophy after a 13-year gap.

Talwinderjith and Jagdeep each had 17 points behind Amritpal Singh’s 21 points.

Rikin Pethani, who led Tamil Nadu’s resurgence, had 24 points and 17 rebounds – both game-highs going in vain.

Railways women won the Baslat Jha Trophy for a record 25th time, and ninth time in a row, but not before Chattisgarh scared them with some crisp long-rangers.

International star Geethu Anna Jose led Railways cause with a game-high 31 points. Fellow Indian internationals Anitha Pauldurai had 19 points and Anju Lakra 14.

Deepa led Chattisgarh with 20 points. Junior international Kavita and Seema Singh added 17 points each.

In the third place play-offs, Indian Railways men bounced off Services 89-81. Hosts Tamil Nadu rode on Shyamala Jothi’s 20 points and Apoorva Muralinath’s 15 points to beat Delhi 68-45 for the women’s bronze.

FIBA Asia

Reporting inputs from C Santhosh Kumar in Chennai