ISLAMABAD, Dec 7: Defending champions Police stayed firmly on track knocking out POF on Wednesday to advance to the semifinals of the 41st National Volleyball Championship at the Liaquat Gymnasium.

The 25-13, 25-20, 25-19 victory came about through a fine display by Naseer Ahmad, Zaman Butt, Ehsan Tipu and Zafar Kuria.

POF did fight hard but could not put up the kind of performance that they had shown in their match against Wapda on Tuesday.

In Thursday’s first semifinal, Police will now play former champions Army who went down to Indian Punjab Wednesday but still advanced into the last four stage.

The Indians scored a 25-13, 25-21, 22-25, 25-21 win over a side that is among the favourites.

Sarwan Singh, Mandeep, Gurwinder Singh and Suraj Prakash were instrumental in victory while for Army, Imran Sakhi, Zafar Iqbal and Bakht Risal did well.

In another game of the quarterfinals league, Wapda thrashed NWFP 25-11, 25-9, 25-12 easing into the last four where their opponents Thursday will be Indian Punjab. In a match of no significance, PAF blanked Punjab 25-20, 25-18, 25-13.

Results (quarterfinals league):

PAF bt Punjab 25-20, 25-18, 25- 13, Wapda bt NWFP 25-11, 25-9, 25-12, Indian Punjab bt Army 25- 13, 25-21, 22-25, 25-21, Police bt POF 25-13, 25-20, 25-19.

Semifinals (Thursday): Indian Punjab v Wapda at 1300 hrs, Police v Army at 1430 hrs.