Hockey: Sialkot book spot in semis

LAHORE: Sialkot overpowered Lahore 4-1 to progress to the semi-finals of the Second Pakistan Hockey Federation Inter-Academy Tournament. Qasim Ahmed opened the scoring for Sialkot in the 10th minute before Hammad Zafar doubled the lead on 20 minutes. Awaisur Rehman pulled a goal back for Lahore in the 27th minute but Sialkot’s Ammad Butt and Nohaiz Zahid added two more goals before half-time to put their team in a strong position. Despite losing the match, Lahore have also qualified for the last-four based on points and can avenge their defeat in a rematch against Sialkot. The second semi-final sees Gojra take on Bahawalpur after the latter defeated Abbottabad 2-1.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 8^th, 2012.