KARACHI: June 5: Defending champion Punjab clinched the Inter-provincial Under-17 hockey Championship 2005 title beating host Sindh 5-2 in the final at the Hockey Club of Pakistan on Saturday night. This was Punjab’s 19th Under-17 title as no other teams have ever won this event.

It was Rizwanul Hasan who broke the ice in the 34th minute to give defending champion a breakthrough. Punjab was leading 1-0 at the end of the first half.

Shafqat Rasool fired a second goal for Punjab, which was followed, by a brilliant goal by defender in the 49th minute when he converted a penalty corner through a low push to earn a 3-0 lead for the winners.

Sindh scored their first goal in the 59th minute through a field goal by Junaid Iqbal.

Punjab struck again twice within a span of 10 minutes when Irfan Ali and Shafqat scored goals to strengthen the lead to 5-1.

Asif Aslam, hero of semifinal, who earlier in the match missed an easy opportunity in the 34th minute, fired a goal for Sindh in the last minute to give host at least a face saving defeat 2-5.

In a match for third position, NWFP edged out Islamabad 3-2 to earn a bronze medal.—PPI