ISLAMABAD: A view of the National Men’s Netball Championship match at Hamidi Hall on Wednesday.

ISLAMABAD: Defending champions Army and PAF remained unbeaten as the 14th National Men’s Netball Championship started here at Hamidi Hall of the Pakistan Sports Complex on Thursday.

The three-day championship featuring 10 teams began with a well-contested match between the PAF and Wapda.

Both the teams started aggressively, each scoring six goals in the first quarter.

The close tussle continued in the second quarter as both the teams once again exhibited quality game. The PAF eventually won the neck-and-neck fight 12-11.

In the next two quarters, the PAF owing to superb performance from Mohammad Akhtar -- who scored 26 goals in the match -- outclassed Wapda, eventually winning the match 34-24.

In another match, the PAF taught Khyber Pakhtun­khwa a netball lesson, as the former registered a lop-sided 49-2 victory.

Again, Akhtar was the standout performer, scoring 40 goals.

Meanwhile, defending champions Army also won both their matches.

First, they overpowered Sindh 45-24 and then outclassed Islamabad 42-7.

Earlier, Sindh beat Fata 44-20, thanks to an outstanding performance by Faisal Rehman who registered 39 goals.

Also on Thursday, Wapda defeated HEC 28-17 with striker Yawar scoring 16 goals for the winners.

In another match, the HEC defeated Punjab 28-18.

Published in Dawn, May 22nd, 2015

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