KARACHI: Defending champions Wapda thrashed Khyber Pakhtunkhwa 20-1 as both teams of Sindh — Colours and Whites — suffered astonishing defeats at the hands of Punjab outfits on the opening day of the 28th National Women’s Hockey Championship which got underway at the Hockey Club of Pakistan Stadium on Wednesday.

In the fourth and last game, former champions Army taught a hockey lesson to Balochistan inflicting 15-0 defeat.

Surprisingly, the opening day’s schedule was revised after release of draws to journalists in a press conference on Tuesday.

Six-time champions Wapda was on a goal-scoring spree and the ball mostly remained in their opponents half. Nazia Rahmat (5), Sidra Kanwal (4), Ishrat Abbas and Maira Sabir three apiece, Amna Mir, Kulsoom, Ambreen Arshad, Kanwal Aslam and Fouzia Sabir one each scored for winners.

Hasina netted lone goal for the losers.

Iqra slammed six goals as Army bulldozed lowly ranked Balochistan. Shamshad and Sahil Malik shared four goals amongst themselves while Afshan Noureen, Shahida, Rashida, Sana Allahditta and Aysha Rafiq scored one goal apiece for winners.

Earlier, Punjab Colours carved out 3-2 victory over Sindh Colours in the first match that marked formal opening of the championship. The two teams were tied one-all at half time.

Gohar Perveen drew blood midway through the first half during a melee that was preceded by second penalty corner. Sindh neutralised the lead through captain Nain Tara off penalty corner three minutes before half time.

The second half that was resumed after the formal opening ceremony produced three field goals. Mahjabeen put Punjab Colours in front in 37th minutes while Mehwish Rafiq sealed the fate in 66th minute. Sindh managed to reduce the deficit through vthe courtesy of Saman Yousuf two minute before final hooter.

Following the footsteps of their main team Colours, Punjab Whites swept aside Sindh Whites 4-0.

Fozia Bashir, Shamsa Javed, Tahira Akram and Warda Khan slammed a goal each for winners.

Meanwhile, journalists covering the event are facing difficulties in getting proper results on time as some non-technical people are around.

Despite four hours presence at the venue in the morning and again half an hour in the evening, this reporter failed to get complete result sheets mentioning number of penalty corners earned by teams, hat-trick, if any, proper shirt numbers etc.

“We’ll send you results on email,” organising secretary Erum Bokhari told Dawn when asked for results.

Thursday’s fixtures: Khyber Pakhtunkhwa v Punjab Colours (9.00am); Wapda v HEC (10.30am); Railways v Sindh Whites (2.00pm); Army v Punjab Whites (3.30pm).

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