QUETTA, Oct 1: Penalty corner striker Gohar Rasool blasted a superb second half hat trick in Wapda's resounding 5-0 victory over Punjab on the opening day of the National Games hockey championship at Musa Poly grass Turf on Friday.

Wapda led 2-0 at the interval with goals from Javed and Ashraf to grab full three points for the victory. But it was fullback Gohar, who changed the course of the match with three goals in a row.

Javed gave Wapda lead in 14th minutes through field effort and Ashraf converted a penalty corner in 25th minute to double the score. Gohar scored goals through penalty corners in 39th, 52nd minute and completed his hat trick with an indirect effort in 66th minute. Gohar missed a penalty stroke in the dying seconds of the match.

In the other match of the day, Army beat Balochistan 3-0. Muhammad Saleem, Zahid Butt and Muhammad Arshad scored the goals for winners. At Government Girls College ground, a goal, a minute from the final whistle by Aneela helped Wapda to force a 2-2 draw to share points with Army in the women's tournament.

Farrukh Naz put Army ahead in 29th minute with penalty corner goal. Aneela equalized three minutes into the second half to draw level also from a penalty corner. Centre forward Saira Saeed put Army ahead in 63rd with a field effort before Aneela grabbed the equalizer.

Punjab thrashed Sindh 6-0. Sana Javed and Razia Malik scored a brace of goals. Nida and Rabia Qadir replied the other goals. NWFP and Sindh were involved in 1-1 draw. -APP