Army , Navy and Police won their matches in the First Chief of the Army Staff Challenge Hockey Cup

Rawalpindi: Army (Seniors), NAVY and Police won their matches in the First Chief of the Army Staff Challenge Hockey Cup at the Army Hockey Stadium here on Saturday. Army (Seniors) beat Punjab 6-3, NAVY beat Army (Juniors) 3-1 and Police beat PAF 3-1. The Event is a joint venture of Pakistan Hockey Federation and Army Sports Directorate. PHF Secretary General Rana Mujahid also witnessed the match.

The first match between Army and Punjab belonged to national team captain Olympian Mohammed Imran who was instrumental in his team’s victory. He scored first two goals on penalty corners in the 2^nd and 13^th minutes respectively, was a part of two beautiful moves that produced even number of goals and also saved two certain goals at the post. Both teams were almost at par in the middle, however, Army excelled in experience, temperament which enabled them to complete excellent finishing.

Hammad Dar also played a vital role in Army’s victory making the second hat-trick of the Tournament. He scored goals in the 23^rd, 40^th and 60^th minutes respectively. Abdul Jabbar scored in the 53^rdminute.

Punjab comprising of young players fought hard and launched some excellent moves as well but they lacked in experience which cost them to complete their finishing. Sohail Anjam was the stikers who also made the first hat-trick of the Tournament scoring all field goals in the 16^th, 42^nd and 53^rdminutes respectively. Haroon and Sohail supervised the match.

NAVY, led by Olympian Rashid Mehmood, had to press hard to earn a victory against Army’s second XI, the only junior team of the Tournament, in the second match of the day. Both teams demonstrated aggression in their game and they also exhibited their dribbling, dodging and interception brilliantly. The juniors, however, faltered in their finishing. Their goalkeeper Mohammed Altaf again showed immense resolute to save at least two strong hits on the penalty corners.

Though Ali Sher scored the first goal from Navy in the 13^th minute yet it was Asad Aziz who played brilliantly throughout the match and played a vital role in his team’s victory. He not only successfully converted two penalty corners in the 17^th and 52^nd minutes respectively but also saved a certain goal standing near the post. Army’s Mohammed Haseeb scored the lone goal from his team. Rana Sajid and Sohail supervised the match.

The last match between Police and PAF was full of thrill during which both teams demonstrated aggressive moves against each other. They fought hard to keep control of the ball which kept rolling between the two halves. Police scored first in the 30^th minute through Atif Baig who neatly netted the ball on a cross from Ayub. They scored two more goals in the last quart. Ayub successfully converted a penalty corner in the 46^th minute and Hafiz Rizwan scored a field goal in the 50^th minute. PAF’s solitary goal came in the 45^th minute on a penalty corner struck by Mushtaq. Kamran Shareef and Kamran MP supervised the match.