KARACHI: A hat-trick of titles for National Bank of Pakistan. Another runners-up finish for Wapda.

NBP continued their domination of the CNS All-Pakistan Hockey Tournament, emerging winners yet again at its third edition, after a come-from-behind 2-1 win over Wapda in an exciting final at the Abdul Sattar Edhi Stadium on Tuesday.

NBP, who had been on the receiving end in the first two quarters and were a goal down at half-time, scored twice in the space of eight minutes through Mohammad Dilber and Waseem Aslam to lift the trophy and collect a prize purse of Rs1.7million.Reigning national champions Wapda, looking to avenge their defeat to NBP in the final of the last edition, set the pace right from the word go and dominated the first two quarters and initiated some good moves.

Their supremacy was rewarded when Rana Abdul Waheed scored off his team’s second penalty corner in 19th minute.

NBP, who had lifted the Azadi Cup by getting the better of Wapda in Rawalpindi recently, came back strongly after half-time but missed the end-product as their forwards fumbled inside the circle.

It took them until the last minute of the third quarter to level matters with Dilber scoring a classic field goal through a reverse flick before man-of-the-match Waseem scored the winner eight minutes into the last quarter.

Wapda. who received Rs1.3million for finishing second, were left to rue that they converted just one of the six penalty corners they received while NBP prevailed despite winning no penalty corners.

In the Rs1million third-place playoff, Pakistan Navy also came from behind to win 2-1 against Mari Petroleum Company Limited thanks to Mohammad Sufyan’s brace, marking it their first podium finish since the tournament’s inception in 2016.

Ghazanfar Ali had given MPCL the lead in the 36th minute with a penalty corner conversion but Sufyan converted back-to-back penalty corners in the 43rd and 50th to help Navy win the match.

Chief of the Naval Staff Admiral M. Amjad Khan Niazi who graced the final as chief guest gave away the prizes.

Pakistan Hockey Federation president retired Brig. Khalid Sajjad Khokhar, PHF secretary Asif Bajwa, Commander Karachi Rear Admiral Ovais Ahmed Bilgrami and Olympians Islahuddin, Samiullah and Hanif Khan were also in attendance.

Dilber was named players of the tournament while also winning the top-scorer award with five goals. Navy’s Mohammad Iqbal earned the best goalkeeper award.

Speaking on the occasion, the CNS asked the PHF chief to devise a strategy for regaining Pakistan’s past glories through collective and individual efforts.

Published in Dawn, September 29th, 2021