KARACHI: Rabbani Hockey Club and Gulberg Hockey Club scored fine victories on the opening day of the Gulberg Champions Trophy which commenced at the KHA Sports Complex on Wednesday. Four teams are taking part in the contest.

In the first match Rabbani Hockey Club scored a convincing 5-2 victory over Baldya Hockey Club with Munir Abbas scoring two goals while Ausaf Rabbani, Zahir Abbas and Ali Raza netted one goal each for the winners. Bilal Niazi and M Fakhir scored one goal each for the losing side. Promising player Wajhat Ali of Rabbani Club was declared Man of the Match.

In the next match host Gulberg Hockey Club carved out a fine 3-1 victory over Nazimabad Mujhaid. Maaz Afridi netted two goals while his brother Mawwaz Afridi scored the third goal for the winning team.

Raja Tanveer scored the only goal for the losing team. Maaz Afridi of Gulberg Club was named Man of the Match.

Earlier, KHA’s Patron-in-Chief retired Major General Tariq Haleem Suri inaugurated the event by hitting a shot. He later was introduced to the two teams. The ceremony was attended by Olympians Hanif Khan, Kashif Jawwad, Sameer Hussain, international Pervaiz Iqbal. Abuzar Umrao and KHA chairman Gulfaraz Ahmed Khan, Javaid Iqbal, Mohsin Ali Khan, Imtiaz Sheikh, Nadeem Ahmed, tournament director Faisal Ismail, organising secretary Asim khan and umpires manager Imtiaz ul Hasan. Strict SOPs are being followed in the event due to Covid-19 while walk through sensitizer gate has also been installed for the players and guests.

Published in Dawn, July 31st, 2021