U20 national hockey: NBP defeat WAPDA to win title
Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) President Akhtar Rasool Chudhary, chief guest at the final, gave away the trophy to winning captain Atiq Arshad. STOCK IMAGE
NBP successfully defended their title with a convincing 3-1 win over Wapda in the final of the 34th U20 National Hockey Championship, which was played at the Hockey Club of Pakistan in Karachi on Friday.
NBP, who have now added a sixth junior trophy to their cabinet, took the lead in the fifth minute through Muhammad Naveed before Wapda bounced back with a field goal from Bilal Mehmood to level the score in the 16th minute.
NBP then restored their lead when Azfar Yaqoob struck the back of the net in the 27th minute and Mubashir Ali sealed the win in the 47th.
In the third-place playoff, SSGC defeated Punjab A 5-4 in a penalty shootout after the match ended in a 3-3 draw.
Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) President Akhtar Rasool Chudhary, chief guest at the final, gave away the trophy to winning captain Atiq Arshad, while PHF secretary Rana Mujahid announced Rs100,000 as prize money for NBP for their achievement.
Published in The Express Tribune, April 25th, 2015.