KARACHI: The Water and Power Development Authority (Wapda) celebrated the Independence Day while registering an emphatic 4-2 victory over reigning national champions Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) to win the inaugural Premier Pakistan Cup nine-a-side hockey tournament at the Abdul Sattar Edhi Stadium on Sunday.

The triumph helped Wapda take a sweet revenge of defeat that they suffered at PIA’s hand in the final of the 62nd national hockey championship earlier this year.

Tassawur Abbas struck twice in the 15th and 33rd minutes to guide Wapda to victory. Ijaz and M. Irfan slammed one goal apiece in the 12th and 26th minutes, the second off penalty corner, to complete the rout.

Haseem Khan and M. Irfan scored one goal each for PIA.

Earlier, the playoff for the third-fourth positions between NBP and SSGC was cancelled after the two teams mutually agreed to share the half-a-million rupees purse set aside for the for bronze medallist.

Meanwhile, PIA qualified for the final by getting the better of Sui Southern Gas Company (SSGC) in the second semi-final on Saturday night.

M. Irfan two and M. Zubair one earned the scoring honours for the winners.

It is pertinent to mention that Wapda had beaten National Bank Of Pakistan 2-1 in the first semi-final.

Victorious Wapda received a winning purse of Rs 2.0 million while PIA earned runners-up prize of Rs1.0 million from the Sindh chief minister Syed Murad Ali Shah.

Sindh Sports Minister Sardar Mohammad Bux Khan Mehr, president of the Pakistan Hockey federation (PHF) retired Brig Khalid Sajjad Khokhar, secretary PHF former Olympian Shahbaz Ahmed and a number of former Olympians were also present.

Published in Dawn, August 15th, 2016