KARACHI: As expected, eight departmental teams including two outfits each of Army and Wapda, completed the quarter-final line-up in the 65th retired Air Marshal Nur Khan National Hockey Championship at the Abdul Sattar Edhi Hockey Stadium on Wednesday.

The teams which progressed into last eight include Army, National Bank of Pakistan (pool A), Wapda, Army Whites (pool B), SSGC, PIA (pool C), Pakistan Navy, Wapda Whites (pool D).

Though Port Qasim Authority (PQA) carved out 4-1 victory over Wapda Whites in the days opening match, it failed to advance into quarter-finals on goal difference.

Haris struck two while ali Raza and Bilal added one each to the winners tally. Adeel Khan scored the only goal for losers in 42nd minute.

In another match, Army Whites sent debutants Mari Petroleum Company Limited (MPCL) packing 2-0 to march into quarters from pool B.

Muzammil Jr put soldiers in front in the 21st minute while M. Ahmed sealed the fate slamming the second goal in 52nd minute.

The MPCL that was raised about a year back and groomed by Olympian full back Manzoor-ul-Hasan, failed to come up to the mark. It could only win one match besides two draws and a defeat.

The pool matches that concluded on Wednesday produced lacklusture performance particularly from Punjab and Sindh who failed to make an impact unlike yesteryears.

The graph of two most seasoned outfits — NBP and PIA — has also fallen drastically which was visible from their matches.

All the four quarter-finals will be played on Thursday. According to draws, pool A champions Army takes on pool D runners-up Wapda Whites at 11am.

In the next match, Navy, who topped pool D faces defending champion National Bank who had to be content with second slot in pool A at 11am.

Wapda, the pool B winners are pitted against pool C runners-up PIA in the third quarter-final at 2.30pm.

The last match will see SSGC up against Army Whites at 4.30pm.

Published in Dawn, August 1st, 2019