PIA register another win in hockey event

Navy thump PHF Academy in national championship.

KARACHI: Kashif Ali contributed a brace as PIA overcame Pakistan Army 5-3 to record successive wins at the National Hockey Championship underway at the Hockey Club of Pakistan, Karachi.

PIA attacked from the word go with Inayatullah scoring in just the 10th minute. They continued to dominate, extending their lead when Ali converted a penalty corner with the first of his two goals coming in the 32nd minute.

Then, just before the half-time whistle, PIA stretched their lead with Nohaiz Malik finding the target.

However, the break worked for Army as Mohammad Rizwan scored his team’s opener in the 51st minute, while Mohammad Safeer struck in the very next minute.

Mohammad Imran made it 3-3 by converting a penalty-corner and PIA were on the back foot.

But Ali gave them the lead again on a 65th-minute penalty corner before Adnan Javed sealing the 5-3 result with a goal in the 69th minute.

Navy win, SSGC earn draw

In other matches, Navy handed a 3-0 drubbing to PHF Academy, courtesy a brace by captain Rashid Mehmood.

Navy dominated the match with Mehmood completing his brace with goals in the 23rd and 43rd minutes, while Waqsul Haq scored his team’s third.

Meanwhile, seasoned striker Shakeel Abbasi scored a last-gasp goal to help SSGC earn a 2-2 draw against HBL.

HBL were leading 2-1 after goals from Adeel Hussain (11th minute) and Mohammad Ehsan (68th minute) before Abbasi was able to find an opening in the final minute.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 28^th, 2012.