Pakistan Railways and Khyber Pakhtoon Khawa Police wins their matches

Lahore: Pakistan Railways and Khyber Pakhtoon Khawa Police have won their matches in League Stage of the 10^th Nishan-e-Haider Hockey Tournament at the Dring Stadium here on Friday. Railways defeated Multan 6-2 and KPK Police beat Bahawalpur by 5-2.

Railways dominated the proceedings of the first match from the beginning. Mohammed Umar converted a penalty corner in the 7^th minute. Three field goals by Waji-ul-Hassan in the 16^th, 17^th and 45^th minutes respectively further strengthened the position of Railmen. Team captain Rizwan and Mohammed Ramzan made a move in the 20^th minute and the later neatly flicked the ball into the goalpost. Shaharyar netted the fifth goal for his team in the 55^th minute. Apart from scorers, Shah Zaib played very well and was instrumental in making some productive moves.

Trailing by four goals Multan lads looked different in the third and fourth quarts. Their forwards launched a series of attacks on their opponents and pressed them hard for a considerable period of time. They demonstrated brilliant passing and control of the ball and succeeded in scoring two goals. Adil Hussain and Mohammed Khurram launched an attack soon after the match resumed in the third quart and Akbar Ali who got a short pass in the D made no mistake in the 31^st minute. Mohammed Usman’s goal in the 56^th minute reduced the margin. Multan wasted six penalty corners.

Additional Deputy Commissioner (General) Ms. Imrana Ajmal was the chief guest whom moving spirit of the Tournament Mehr Riaz presented a memento.

Spectators witnessed a thrilling contest in the match between KPK Police and Bahawalpur. Both teams displayed aggressive stick-work and fought hard to take control of the ball. The visitors took lead in the 9^th minute through a field goal by Adeel which was leveled by Mansoor of the hosts in the 27^th minute. Adeel scored his second goal in the 31^st minute for KPK. Team captain Jameel Khan, Asif Khan and Touseeq Ahmed scored goals in the 36^th, 48^th and 55^th minutes respectively.

Local boys did not lose heart and they continued to attack ferociously but they failed to finish their moves successfully. They got two back to back penalty corners in the 49^th minute of which Mukhtar converted one.