LAHORE, Feb 6: Wapda and National Bank of Pakistan (NBP) will lock horns in the final of the 32nd National Junior Hockey Championship after they won their respective semi-finals in Faisalabad on Wednesday.

Both teams progressed after identical victories — 2-1 after extra-time — with Wapda beating SSGC and NBP edging out PIA.

SSGC took the lead in the 34th minute when Sohail converted a short corner but Wapda responded in the 62nd when Waseem Abbas capitalized on a penalty corner. Mohammad Suleman then struck the winner in the 80th with a superb field goal.

NBP had Mohammad Dilber to thank after he scored in the 71st minute against PIA to seal their place in the final.

Dilber had earlier given his side in the lead in the seventh minute with a field effort but PIA drew level in the 20th when Ammad Shakeel Butt scored with a field effort.

Meanwhile, a press release of the PHF informed that tournament director Muhammad Farooq has taken disciplinary action against the three players of the PIA, besides managers and coaches of both PIA and NBP for misbehaving during their match.

Players Ammad and Afsar Yaqoob have been banned for a month with Sultan Amir being handed a six-month suspension from taking part in any domestic and international matches. The trio, however, have the right to appeal their bans.

PIA manager Olympian Qamar Ibrahim and NBP gaffer Muhammad Arshad have been warned to be careful in the future while coaches of both the teams, Olympian Muhammad Akhlaq (NBP) and Mohammad Irfan Mehmood (PIA) have been banned for the next five matches.

The final and third-place classification matches will be played on Thursday.—Sports Reporter