KARACHI: Punjab Yellows, Sindh Whites, Pakistan Board and National Bank of Pakistan (NBP) conjured up victories on the opening day of the 33rd National Junior Hockey Championship which commenced at the Hockey Club of Pakistan Stadium on Wednesday.

The opening day saw implementation of new rules by the Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) following amendments by the International Hockey Federation (FIH) that will officially come into force in September.

Punjab carved out 3-2 penalty strokes victory over Khyber Pakhtunkhwa after being held to a two-all draw in 60-minute regulation time.

Samiullah drew blood for Khyber Pakhtunkhwa by converting a penalty corner in sixth minute but the lead was short lived as M. Ishtiaq scored the equaliser eight minute later.

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa again forged ahead courtesy Samiullah, who slammed his second goal on a penalty corner six minutes after resumption. Punjab again restored parity through M. Adnan who netted in 49th minute.

Penalty shootout ensued as new rules have done away with the extra time. Punjab converted three of the five strokes against two availed by Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Ishtiaq, Yasir Ali and Adnan scored for winners while Sami and Saif netted for losers.

Hosts Sindh Whites scored a solitary goal victory over Balochistan. Jamshed scored the all important goal for the winners in 11th minute. Further goal eluded the winners as they failed to capitalise on the seven penalty corners during the play.

In the third match, Pakistan Board fought back from a goal down to inflict a 2-1 defeat on Punjab Whites. Naik Ahmad scored both the goals for winners in 41st and 51st minutes after M. Asim had opened the account for Punjab Whites in 15th minute.

Last year’s losing finalist National Bank lived up to their billing when they beat Sindh Colours by tennis score (6-0) in the fourth match that also marked formal opening of the event.

Adeel Latif (17th min), Mubashir (19th min), Waseem Aslam (28th min), Ateeq (36th min), Ehtisham (39th min) and Shan Irshad (55th min) scored one goal apiece for the bankers.

Adviser to Sindh Chief Minister on Sports, Mohammad Adil Siddiqui, who inaugurated the event, announced lucrative cash prizes for the teams that will attain top three positions.

Amidst applause, he announced Rs200,000 for winners, Rs150,000 for runners-up and Rs100,000 for the third-placed team.

He assured to expedite the laying of blue Astro Turf at the HCP Stadium replacing the present synthetic pitch.

Flanked by Karachi Hockey Association (KHA) president Wasay Jalil, Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) secretary Rana Mujahid, PHF women wing chairperson, Khushbakht Shujat, secretary Sports Sindh Laeeq Ahmed and chief selector Islahuddin Siddiqui, the chief guest watched the NBP-Sindh Colours match.

Also, present among others were former Olympians Iftikhar Syed, Shahid Ali Khan, Qamar Ibrahim and organising secretary Mohammad Farooq Khan.

Thursday’s fixtures:

At 7.00am: Punjab Colours v Islamabad

At 9.00am: Railways v Khyber Pakhtunkhwa

At 3.00pm: Wapda v Sindh Whites.

Published in Dawn, May 15th, 2014