Wapda book NBP for hockey final

Junior teams to vie for national championship title.

KARACHI:

Defending champions Wapda overcame PIA 3-2 to book their place in the 33rd National Junior Hockey Championship final against NBP at the Hockey Club of Pakistan Stadium on Friday.

PIA started off with an early goal in the 14th minute by Abu Bakr through a penalty corner, which was doubled by Amir Ali in the 24th minute with his field goal. Wapda replied with Mohammad Bilal Mahmood’s goal in the 31st minute of the match, while Mudassir Ali struck the equaliser for Wapda four minutes later and then sealed the win in the 60th minute.

On the other hand, NBP dominated the second semi-final of the tournament as they outclassed Punjab 4-1.

Waseem Akram scored the opening goal of the match in the 17th minute while Shan Irshad scored another in the 38th. Punjab equalised within a minute with Qasim Ahmed’s goal. However, NBP’s Muhammad Ateeq extended the lead in the 45th minute, while Adeel Lateef sealed the win four minutes later with a field goal.

According to Tariq Aziz, one of the members of NBP’s senior team, the department’s junior side deserve the title.

“I’m impressed that they’ve reached the final,” Aziz told The Express Tribune. “They’ve performed brilliantly throughout the tournament, so they deserve to win. I’m expecting a thrilling show from both sides.

“NBP have an edge. They also have better coaches and their morale is high with a massive win in the previous match.”

Published in The Express Tribune, May 24^th, 2014.

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