Defending Champion WAPDA and NBP will play final

Karachi: Defending Champion WAPDA and NBP have conjured up victories to play the final of the ongoing 33^rd National Junior Hockey Championship. The final will start at 3.30pm at the Hockey Club of Pakistan Stadium here on Friday. Sindh Minister for Health dr. Saghir will be the chief guest.

Earlier, last minute goal by Mudassar Ali enabled WAPDA to beat PIA 3-2 in an electrified first semifinal. At a time when the spectators were expecting to watch an exciting drama in the thrilling shoot outs session, and even PIA players were also showing signs of exhaustion in the dying moments of the match and might be planning to take the match into the penalty shoot outs, Mudassar had different plans. In the last minute of the semifinal forwards Mohammed Navees and Adnan initiated a move from the right side and entered into the D where Adnan’s hit was stopped by the goalkeeper and an unmarked Mudassar happily grabed the opportunity and scored the goal on rebound.

After scoring the first goal WAPDA forwards exerted pressure and maintained it till the end. It was a wonderful victory for the defending champion of the Tournament who were two down when the match started in the third quarter. In the 31^st minute Mohammed Naveed along with Mohammed Bilal Mehmood, who is till now the top scorer of the Championship, made a fine move and Bilal  struck a beautiful field goal. Four minutes later Mudassar scored his first goal on penalty corner. This bought WAPDA at par with PIA 2-2.

PIA demonstrated excellent game in the first two quarters through Abu Bakr who successfully converted a penalty corner in the 14^th minute. In the 24^thminute Amir Ali scored the second goal for the Airliners. Kamran Shafi and Ghufran  Ahmed supervised the match. Both teams were introduced by the Sindh Hockey Association President and the Chief Guest Olympian Shahid Ali Khan.

NBP successfully maintained their supremacy as they outclassed Punjab (C) 4-1 in the second semifinal. Both teams were expecting a tough contest but it turned out to be a one sided affair as Bankers dominated the proceedings throughout the stipulated time. They made spectacular moves, their sprints in the middle were amazing,  and their possession of the ball was also excellent. While the Punjabians lacked in coordination and tackling the opposition. Their only moment of delight came in the 35^th minute when Qasim Ahmed successfully converted a penalty corner. However, they failed to capitalize three penalty corners they got, in four minutes, in the last quarter of the match.

Forward Ali Raza gave a long pass to Waseem Akram in the 17^th minute who slammed a fine field goal. In the 38^th minute Adeel’s lone effort earned a penalty corner which Shan Irshad beautifully struck. In the last minute of the third quarter Khizer Akhtar launched a move and gave a pass to his captain Ateeq who netted the ball into the goal post on a rebound. The Bankers scored their fourth goal in the 49^th minute which was the result of a long pass he received inside the D and Adeef latif beautifully deflected the ball in the net. Kamran MP and Atif Malik were the two umpires. Before the match the players and Tournament officials were introduced with the Chief Guest Commissioner Karachi Shoaib Siddiqui.