January 13, 2003	Monday	Ziqa'ad 9, 1423

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LAHORE, Jan 12: Defending champions PIA survived a big scare before overpowering Railways 3-2 on the opening day of the 50th national hockey championship departmental qualifying round on Sunday.

Having star players like Shahbaz Ahmad, Ahmad Alam, Mohammad Usman, Malik Shafqat, Rahim Khan, Atif Bashir and Kamran Ashraf, the national airlines were not as impressive as they should have been.

The lowly-rated Railways took an early shock lead over mighty PIA when Amir Zia came into action in the third minute of the game at the National Hockey Stadium.

The opening goal, however, proved a wake-up call for PIA who equalised through Irfan Mahmood two minutes later, skipper Kamran put his side 2-1 ahead, converting a short corner.

PIA forged 3-1 ahead when Ali Raza converted a penalty stroke in the 51st minute. Railways again threatened their formidable rivals with another goal which came through Nadeem Junior in the 68th minute.

A match-winner by Rehan Butt helped star-studded Wapda edge out Pakistan Telecommunication Company Limited (PTCL) 2-1.

Wapda drew first blood when Mudassir Ali Khan dodged two defenders to score off a Mohammad Shabbir pass in the 24th minute. PTCL responded two minutes later with Akhtar Ali netting the equaliser.

Wapda who wasted two short corners in the first half, converted the third in the 42nd minute. Sohail’s rising push was taken by goalkeeper Salman Akbar and Rehan finished the job off rebound.

Wapda could have got their third in the 55th minute but Shabbir missed the sitter when he failed to connect a pass from right side.

Yasin’s hat trick enabled Police score a convincing 6-0 win over PTV.

Ijaz Imran gave Police an early lead by scoring in the third minute and completed his hat trick netting in the 29th, 34th and 41st minutes. Javed Iqbal added the fifth in the 50th minute, while Niaz Ahmad struck two minutes later.

Two goals from captain Kashif Jawwad helped Habib Bank crush Pakistan Navy 7-1.

The bankers got the lead in the 4th minute through Mohammad Khalid. Kashif netted his first in the 13th minute, Sameer Hussain increased the lead 3-0 in the 26th minute, while Haider Hussain made it 4-0 the next minute.

Navy’s consolation came after resumption when Mohammad Saleem struck off a short corner in the 41st minute.

Kashif scored his second in the 61st minute. Abdul Qavi Khan (65th minute) and Rizwan Khan (68th minute) completed the tally.

Two goals each from Muhammad Ali, Naeem Ahmad and Moazzam guided Customs a 10-1 victory over University Grants Commission.

Customs grabbed the lead through Shabbir in the very first minute. Mudassar Abbas doubled the lead in the 11th minute, before Mohammad Ali scored in the 14th and the 17th minute.

Naeem netted in the 26th minute and Waseem scored in the 29th minute. Moazzam scored two goals, first in the 38th and the second in the 48th minute. Naeem scored his second in the 51st minute and Atif made it 10-0 a minute later. UGC scored their only goal through Mohammad Imran Ali in the 69th minute.

Allied Bank (ABL) earned a facile 4-1 win over Pakistan Ordnance Factories (POF).

Naveed Alam, who scored two goals, also injured opponent player Shahzad during a tackle. Naveed’s hockey stick hit Shahzad’s nose who was sent to hospital for treatment but surprisingly umpire Takrim Shah did not show any card to Naveed.

Naveed took the lead for the bankers, converting a penalty corner in the 10th minute. POF retaliated through Shahzad also off a penalty corner in the 28th minute.

ABL again went ahead when Naveed converted another short corner in the 38th minute, Babar Abdullah banged home the third in the 40th minute, Mohammad Sarwar completed the tally with a 63rd-minute goal through a short corner.

Monday’s fixtures:

PAF v Army, ABL v UGC at 10.30am; HBL v Customs; PTCL v Navy at 12.30pm; PIA v PTV; Wapda v POF at 2.30pm.