PIA (White), Asia Ghee Mills and WAPDA win their matches

Lahore: Pakistan International Airlines (White), Asia Ghee Mills and WAPDA have won their matches in League Stage of the 10^th Nishan-e-Haider Hockey Tournament at the Dring Stadium here on Thursday. Asia Ghee Mills beat Khushab 6-0, PIA White crushed Khyber Pakhtoon Khawa Police 8-1 and WAPDA humbled Manga Mandi Club 9-0.

Brilliant stick-work by Adnan Babar guided Asia Ghee to beat Khushab comfortably in the opening match. Adnan scored four goals which including a hat-trick. He struck three beautiful field goals in the 14^th, 27^th, and 49^th minutes respectively. He successfully converted a penalty corner in 28^th minute also. Kamran Maqsood (33^rd min) and Amir Shahzad (53^rd min) were the other scorers. Khushab boys played with courage but they lacked in experience which was evident in the last two quarts when their forwards wasted three open chances to reduce the margin of defeat.

Hat-trick, by international Ammad Butt led PIA (White) to dominate Khyber Pakhtoon Khawa Police in the second match. Both teams demonstrated aggressive game and their forwards amused the crowd with their speed and excellent passes. First quart was full of thrill and drama which produce two goals. Both teams made several inroads into each other halves. It was a mixture of attacks and counter attacks in which both opponents tried hard to keep control of the ball which kept it rolling between two halves. However, inexperience and stamina of KPK lads was exposed in later quarts which allowed their superior opponents to dominate the proceedings of the match.

Ammad converted a penalty corner in the 3^rd minute and scored two beautiful goals in the 39^th and 45^th minutes respectively. Amir Shahzad converted two penalty corners in the 22^nd and 56^th minutes. Waqas Akbar (29^th min), Waseem Akram (38^th min) and Atif Mushtaq (57^th min) also scored field goals. Lone goal from KPK Police was scored by Adnan Babar in the 10^th minute. Local businessman Masood Nasir was the chief guest of the match.

Hat-trick by International Waqas Sharif guided WAPDA to humble Manga Mandi in the last match. Waqas netted three eye-catching field goals amid brilliant demonstration of dribbling and dodges in the 24^th, 32^nd and 57^th minutes respectively. Two goals each by Salman (19^th – 49^th min) and Ijaz Ahmed (44^th – 53^rd min) further consolidated their teams’ position. Mohammed Imran also struck a goal in the 25^th minute.