January 08, 2007	Monday	Zilhaj 17, 1427

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LAHORE, Jan 7: Two goals each by an Indian, Dhruvpal Godara, and Iftikhar Ali Khan helped Al Khan/Diamond Paints carve out a 5-4 1/2 win against Polo De Sufi in the opening match of the Warid Polo Cup on Sunday.

After a barren first chukker, Godara and Iftikhar eliminated the losers' 1 1/2 handicap lead by scoring one each in the second chukker to lead 2- 1 1/2 . Godara converted a 30-yard penalty hit while Iftikhar scored through a field attempt after receiving a pass from Shah Shamyl Alam.

The winners further increased the lead to 4-2 1/2 in the third chukker as Godara and Shamyl struck one each on field attempt. For the losers Pablo Bagnardi, a six-goal Argentinean struck the first.

A nail-biting struggle for supremacy ensued in the final chukker. First Iftikhar scored his second for a comfortable 5-2 1/2 lead. But the losers tried to make a match of it in the dying minutes scoring back-to-back goals through Agha Murtaza Ali Khan and Sufi Mohammad Aamir, before falling half a goal short to concede victory.

Three-goal Asif Tiwana propelled Candy Land to a big 7-3 win against Guardian Securities.

An Indian Vishal Singh pumped in two goals while Tanvir Tariq and Abdul Haseeb Mehta chipped in one goal each.

For the losers, Hamid Ali Manan (2) and Sattar Niazi (1) were the scorers.