December 21, 2003	Sunday	Shawwal 26, 1424

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ISLAMABAD, Dec 20: As the 39th Prime Minister’s Volleyball Championship moved to the dimly-lit Hamidi Hall for a day because of a music show at the original venue, holders Army and Police quickly advanced to the quarterfinal league.

Army, playing the first match of the day against Sindh did not have to exert much in scoring a 25-13, 25-13, 25-14 victory which was their second of the championship.

Police, among the favourites to win the title, found Islamabad tough customers before winning 25-20, 25-18, 25-17 to move ahead while Wapda also advanced to the next stage with a 25- 18, 25-19, 25-19 win over PTCL as did POF and NWFP.

POF, who defeated Punjab on the opening day at the Liaquat Gymnasium were awarded a walkover against Railways who failed to turn up for the championship. NWFP on the other hand were 25-18, 25-16, 25-20 victors against Higher Education Commission (HEC) who suffered their second defeat in two days.

In another match, PAF were extended to four games by AJK before collecting a 25-17, 25-16, 19-25, 25-15 win, which was their first, after losing to Police on Friday.

Army, 10-time winners of the national crown, owed their victory Saturday to booster Muhammad Ellahi and spikers Bakht Risal and Naeemullah, all three putting up an exceptional show.

Sindh were never expected to challenge the strong Army side, having some big names among their ranks and yielded tamely. Although Mazhar Memon, Tahir Yar Khan and Muhammad Ali played well for their side, their efforts were of no use.

The star-studded Police, winners of national title for a record 15 times, were given a run for their money by babes Islamabad. But thanks to spikers Muhammad Tufail, Muhammad Zaman and libro Tariq Waseem, Police walked off winners. Their opponents on Sunday now will be AJK, who are without a win after two matches.

Wapda, 3-0 winners over Pak Boards on the first day, were made to toil by a fighting PTCL who fell to their second defeat that followed their loss to Navy on Friday.

Spiker Shahid Hussani, booster Irfan Nawaz and libro Liaquat Yar stood out in Wapda’s win while captain Sajjad Ali Shah and Irfan worked hard for PTCL.

Meanwhile, in Friday’s late games, NWFP defeated Sindh 25-12, 25-20, 25-19 while Balochistan were granted walkover against Railways.

The championship will now return to the Liaquat Gymnasium on Sunday when another eight matches are to be contested. Among those on show will be champions Army, Police and Wapda.

Results:

Army bt Sindh 25-13, 25-13, 25-14, Police bt Islamabad 25-20, 25-18, 25-17, Wapda bt PTCL 25-18, 25-19, 25-19, POF w/o Railways, NWFP bt HEC 25-18, 25-16, 25-20, PAF bt AJK 25- 17, 25-16, 19-25, 25-15.

Played Friday: NWFP bt Sindh 25-12, 25-20, 25-19, Wapda bt Pak Borads 25-15, 25-13, 25-18, Balochistan w/o Railways.

Sunday fixtures: NWFP v Army, Police v AJK, PTCL v Pak Boards, Railways v Punjab, Sindh v HEC, Wapda v Navy, PAF v Islamabad, POF v Balochistan.