KARACHI: Almost all the players had their first exposure of playing on astro turf as the Essa Lab inter-school primary and secondary boys and girls hockey tournament commenced at the Olympian Islahuddin-Dr Mohammad Ali Shah academy on Monday.

With the exception of one match that produced seven goals, other matches turned out to be low scoring, one-sided affairs.

Altogether 48 teams – 12 in each category – are competing for honours. Winners of the opening days ties have advanced into the quarter-finals.

According to organisers, the duration of matches of secondary category has been reduced to 40-minutes, four quarters of 10-minutes each. The primary boys and girls are playing five-a-side matches with two halves of 10-minutes each.

In the only tall-scoring match in secondary girls category, Government Girls Secondary School (GGSS) Adar-e-Shirqiya cruised past GGSS Dastagir 4-3.

Samera netted twice in the 22nd and 28th minutes after Anila broke the ice in the ninth minute and Soha consolidated two minutes later for the winners.

Sozina, Zoha and Dua scored once for the losers.

Qurat-ul-Ain scored twice to guide GGSS Orangi Town register 2-0 victory over GGSS Khatoon-e-Pakstan in an earlier match of the same category.

Qamar Bin Hashim School and Government Boys Secondary School (GBSS) Qamar-ul-Islam stormed into last eight by winning their match in the secondary boys event.

The former registered 4-0 victory over GBSS Jahangir Road No 3 with Faris, Kamil, Ather and Qamar sharing a goal each while the latter sent GBSS Aziz Bhatti Shaheed packing 3-0. Faheem (2) and Tanveer (1) earned the scoring honours.

In the primary boys, Government Boys Primary School (GBPS) Jut Lane defeated GBPS Orangabad 2-0. Asad and Sameer scored for the winners.

Two-goal Faiz Abbas steered GBPS Staff Welfare FC Area to beat GBPS Comprehensive North Nazimabad 2-0.

In the third match, GBPS Anjuman-e-Islamia Liaquatabad No 2 scored a solitary goal victory over GBPS Chustiya North Karachi with hammad scoring the only goal of the match.

Areeb struck twice as GBPS North Karachi carved out 2-0 victory over GBPS Liaquatabad.

Erum, Pria Bibi and Fozia slammed one goal each as Government Girls Primary School (GGPS) Pathan Colony defeated GGPS Liaquatabad 3-0.

Areeba’s two goals guided GGPS No 1 Jut Lane rout GGPS North Nazimabad 2-0.

In the third match, GGPS Khudadad Colony chalked up a lone goal victory over GGPS Firdous C olony. Malika scored the lone goal. In the last match, GGPS North Karachi defeated GGPS Liaquatabad No 2 by 2-1. Shazia and Muslin scored once for winners while Dua scored for losers.

Published in Dawn, November 13th, 2018