ISLAMABAD: Punjab Blues beat Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Colours 3-1 in the inaugural National Junior U-18 Hockey Championship final here at the Naseer Bunda Hockey Stadium on Wednesday.

In a one-sided affair witnessed by a large crowd, Punjab Blues took lead in the first quarter when Wasim Akram scored their first goal in the 12th minute.

Ahmed Nadeem doubled the lead in the second quarter, scoring a splendid goal in the 23rd minute.

And a minute later, it became 3-0 as Mohammad Ilyas recorded another goal for Punjab.

Striving to make a comeback, KP Colours finally managed to reduce the lead in the last quarter when Khairullah scored their only goal in the 48th minute.

Punjab Blues’ captain Abid Bhatti was over the moon. “We are very happy, as this is a big win for us,” he beamed.

Meanwhile, Punjab Colours defeated Punjab Whites 4-1 in the third-position match.

State Minister for Capital Administration and Development Division, Dr Tariq Fazal Chaudhry, the chief guest, gave prizes to the winning and runner-up teams.

PHF president retired Brig Khalid Sajjad Khokar, secretary Shahbaz Ahmed Senior and Olympian Shahnaz Sheikh were also present on the occasion.

Players’ age issue ruins national event

Speaking on the occasion, the PHF president said they were taking various initiatives for improving the standard of the national game.

“We are planning to set up five academies in different parts of the country to provide a proper platform for youngsters to help them develop their talent,” he said, adding that a state-of-the-art academy would be established in Islamabad.

Khokhar said the PHF was in constant contact with various departments including OGDC, Civil Aviation Authority, Sui Gas and Fauji Foundation on the subject of players’ jobs.

“I hope a good number of players will get jobs in these organisations,” he said.

A controversy over ages of the players mainly from Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, meanwhile, marred the national junior event.

Speaking on the occasion, tournament director retired Col Ahmed Nawaz Ganjera told reporters that as per the results of the wrist tests conducted by the PHF during the U-18 championship, a number of players from Punjab and KP proved over-aged, but their passport records indicated they were U-18.

“To avoid any controversy, we had decided to allow all the players [to participate in the event] because we didn’t want to disturb the proceedings. However, next time we will be more careful, and will not repeat this mistake [of allowing players to compete without conducting wrist tests],” he said.

Speaking to Dawn, Shahbaz said over 50 players, mainly from winners Punjab Blues and runners-up KP Colours, would be shortlisted for a training camp to be set up after Eid-ul-Azha, to select teams for upcoming junior events.

The PHF president, commenting on the subject of over-age players, said players for the camp would be selected only on the basis of the results of their wrist tests.

Published in Dawn, June 2nd, 2016