RAWALPINDI, Oct 22: Rawalpindi, Multan and Lahore Zones scored victories Monday, the opening day of the Army Polo Championship at the Rawalpindi Race Course.

Rawalpindi Zone blew away Mangla Zone 8-3-1/2 (three and a half), Multan defeated Gujranwala Zone 5-2-1/2 and Lahore edged past Rawalpindi C 4-3-1/2.

Dfd. Ahmed Khan was on target five times in Rawalpindi Zone’s victory with Maj Gen Khalid Naeem striking thrice. Their rivals Mangla Zone, enjoying an advantage of 1-1/2 goal, scored through Maj Babar Mahboob Awan and Maj. Asif Zahoor, who had one each.

Multan got their goals in their match against Gujranwala from Raja Nadeem who had a brace as did Omer Minhas while Shakil Tayyab Tirmizi netted once.

Khursheed Ahmed put in Gujranwala’s only goal. They had a an advantage of 1-1/2 goal.

Nauman Wasif of Lahore Zone was the chief goal-getter for his side against Rawalpindi C with three, coming in the first, third and fourth chukkers. Muhammad Amanat scored once.

Shayan Abbasi and Haq Nawaz were the scorers for Rawalpindi C with a goal each as their side finished with 3-1/2 goals, having a 1-1/2 goal advantage.

Teams (with handicaps)

Rawalpindi Zone: Maj Gen Khalid Naeem-0, Dfd Ahmed Khan-3, Lt. Col Shoaib Aftab-2, Brig Sikander Ali-1.

Mangla Zone: Maj Babar Mahboob Awan-1, Col Amanullah Khan-0, Naib Risaldar Manzoor Shah-1, Maj Asif Zahoor-2. Advantage 1-1/2 goal.

Multan Zone: Maj Gen Shakil Tayyab Tirmizi-0, Brig Asif Kamal Zeb-1, Capt. Omer Minhas-3, Lt. Col Raja Nadeem-2.

Gujranwala Zone: Maj. Ijaz Qureshi-0, Maj Abdullah Khan-0, L. Dfd Khursheed Ahmed-4, Brig. Shabbir Ahmed-0. Advantage 1-1/2 goal.

Lahore Zone: Capt Nauman Asif-1, Lt. Col Talat Zia Raja-0, Maj Afzal Mehr-0, Hav Muhammad Amanat-1.

Rawalpindi C: GC Shayan Abbasi-0, Maj. Abid Ali-0, Capt Mashood- 0, Dfd Haq Nawaz-0. Advantage 1-1/2 goal.

Tuesday’s fixtures: Bahawalpur Zone v Rawalpindi C (1500 hrs), Rawalpindi A v Rawalpindi B (1600 hrs).