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| December 17, 2005 | Saturday | Ziqa’ad 14, 1426 |
Polo: Six-goal Vishal excels in JPC victory
LAHORE, Dec 16: Six superb goals by Vishal Singh, including two in the last stages of the match steered Jaipur Club, India (JCI) to a 9-7 win over Lahore Polo Club (LPC) on Friday.
Both teams meet again on Saturday for the Thomson Cup Challenge Trophy at the same venue.
LPC started off on a fast note taking a 3-0 lead in the first chukker.
Naveed M Sheikh drew first blood scoring a field goal after four-goal Ahmad Nawaz Tiwana, missed a 60-yard penalty. Thereafter, Vishal also missed a 60-yard penalty.
The hosts mounted pressure when Ahmad Nawaz struck back-to-back goals.
He first converted a 40-yard penalty hit with a lofting shot then pumped in a field goal after a short melee under the neck shot to make the score 3-0.
JC retaliated in the second chukker and caught up with LPC at 4-4 with a brilliant fightback mainly led by Vishal, who scored all four goals.
Vishal started his onslaught, converting a 30-yard penalty hit with a lofting shot, before Ahmad Nawaz came to score his third goal off a fine pass from Naveed to make it 4-1.
But afterwards JC had settled down and looked in complete command of the horses, gifted by the LPC, and moved in more effective manners, to penetrate the defence of the rivals.
Vishal levelled the score, striking thrice.
Vishal scored his second goal converting a spot penalty followed by a field goal with a long lofted shot about 80 yards away from the goalpost and third capitalizing on a 60-yard penalty hit.
The third chukker saw the visitors take the lead 7-5 for the first time. Vishal Nihalani scored two goals.
He scored first on solo efforts followed by a goal from Ajit Singh, who cashed in on a cross pass from Vishal to surge 6-4 ahead.
Ahmad Nawaz reduced the margin by scoring his fourth goal off a pass from Naveed but Nihalani again increased the lead by scoring his second with the collaboration of Vishal.
Coming in with two goals deficit for the fourth chukker, LPC staged a comeback to the delight of an enthusiastic crowd when Ahmed Zubair struck two goals in a row to level the score 7-7.
But Vishal again came to rescue JC scoring two goals to complete the tally. Later, Vishal told newsmen that his side started the match on a slow note as the horses were new for them.
“We have been trying to get control of the game in the beginning and started our aggressive play as soon as we got settled down.
“The horses were good and I would like to thank LPC for providing quality stuff to us for the match,” he said.
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