October 31, 2001	Wednesday	Shaba’an 13, 1422

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ISLAMABAD, Oct 30: Wapda made a characteristic start to the defence of their title Tuesday when they blanked Sindh 3-0 on the first day of the 37th Royals National Volleyball Championship at the Liaquat Gymnasium.

On a day in which six matches being decided, all of them in straight sets, Wapda made their intentions quiet clear with a 25-13, 25-8, 25-17 victory.

Irfan and Rahim helped Wapda make just the kind of start they had wanted, and stood out with their fine skills that unsettled their rivals for whom Mazhar did well.

While Wapda had little difficulty in brushing aside their rivals, last year’s losing finalists, Army were given a scare by Navy before winning 25-12, 28-26, 25-18 in the last match of the day. The game also marked the official opening of the week-long championship which was inaugurated by the Director General of Pakistan Sports Board, Brig Saulat Abbas.

In other matches PTCL outplayed UGC 25-9, 25-18, 25-16 in a game played on the heels of the Wapda-Sindh encounter, Police walloped a weak AJK 25-15, 25-17, 25-9, POF crushed a hapless Balochistan 25-10, 25-5, 25-7 and PAF showed no mercy to Pakistan Boards winning 25-7, 25-14, 25-20.

The Army-Navy game was perhaps the best of the day and drew a good crowd. After going down a set, Navy fought gallantly in the intriguing second set which stood level, first at 22-22, then at 23-23 and then again at 25-25 and 26-26 before Army broke away to clinch it with some intelligent play.

The Army bench appeared nervous as Navy made a match of it and nearly took the second set, something that might have changed the complexion of the game.

Navy, with some good play from Mushtaq, Azhar Mahmood and Tariq, did not seem to give up in the third set and were neck and neck at 10-10 and then at 13-13 before Army zoomed ahead to take the set and the match.

Smasher Bakht Rasal excelled in Army’s victory in which Jameel Naeem and Zafar also played their part to perfection.

Army, being tipped favourites along with Police, will now take on UGC Wednesday, a match they should not have any difficulty in winning.

Wednesday will be another busy day in the championship which is being played on the Mondoflex portable surface, being tested for the first time since being imported in September for the SAF Games.

After Army and UGC set the day into gear, Navy will play PTCL in the second match, POF face off Pakistan Boards, PAF will meet Balochistan with NWFP playing AJK and Punjab up against Sindh.

A total of 14 teams are taking part in the championship which have been bracketed into the following four groups:

Group A: Wapda, Punjab, Sindh

Group B: Army, Navy, PTCL, UGC

Group C: Police, NWFP, AJK

Group D: POF, PAF, Pakistan Boards, Balochistan.

Tuesday’s results:

Wapda bt Sindh 25-13, 25-8, 25-17; PTCL bt UGC 25-9, 25-18, 25- 16; Police bt AJK 25-15, 25-17, 25-9; POF bt Balochistan 25-10, 25-5, 25-7; PAF bt Pak Boards 25-7, 25-14, 25-20.

Wednesday’s fixtures: Army v UGC 0900 hrs, Navy v PTCL 1000 hrs, POF v Pak Boards 1100 hrs, PAf v Balochistan 1200 hrs, NWFP v AJK 1430 hrs, Punjab v Sindh at 1530 hrs.