KARACHI: Maj. Rana Shabbir Sharif 9ners carved out a scintillating 5-2 victory over L/N Mohammad Mahfooz 9ners in the final to win the Nishan-i-Haider international 9ners hockey tournament at the Abdul Sattar Edhi Stadium on Tuesday.

The winners first notched up 3-1 victory over their opponents on the shootout and again sent them packing 2-1 in the regulation time to maintain their ascendancy.

M. Naveed, Rana Sohail, Faizan and captain Aleem Bilal netted once after Nohaiz Malik had wasted the first strike on shootout for the winners.

The losers could only score one goal through Saran Bin Qamar as Bilal Qadir, Zohaib Ashraf, Zeeshan Bokhari and Mohsin Sabir threw away their chances.

Forwards of Shabbir Sharif 9ners enjoyed an edge over rivals by forcing back-to-back moves, forcing penalty corners in the 11th and 12th minutes but to no avail.

Mahfooz 9ners retaliated in the 13th minute but Saran Bin Qamar’ s attempt was successfully foiled by the opponents custodian Mattew Graeme Fleming.

After a barren first half, Shabbir Sharif 9ners launched an attack through Aleem Bilal who was charged by the opponents defender inside the circle and the umpire signalled a penalty stroke. Bilal made no mistake to break the ice in 23rd minute.

The lead was, however, proved to be shortlived as Zohaib Ashraf drew level, also on penalty stroke, that preceded a melee near the goalmouth in the 26th minute.

M. Naveed succeeded to score the decisive goal off teams’s third PC in the 34th minute.

The Sindh Chief Minister, Syed Murad Ali Shah, who graced the final, awarded the glittering winners trophy to captain of Shabbir Sharif 9ners, Aleem Bilal, amidst applause. Skipper Rana Umair received the runners-up trophy for Mahfooz 9ners.

It sounds quite strange that the same runners-up trophy was recently given to the second-placed team in the first Dr Essa Lab five-a-side under-19 hockey tournament held under the aegis of the Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF).

Dawn witnessed the metal plate was rmoved and replaced by a print out “Runners-up” before the final.

Speaking on the occasion, the Sindh chief minister congratulated the winners and runners-up for exhibiting good game.

Terming staging of the event in the city of lights as a good omen, he said a number of activities are taking place in the metropolis every now and then. Recently, over 30,000 foreigners were in the city to attend the Bohra community majalis, he remarked.

The governor acknowledged the untiring efforts of the law enfor cing agencies for restoring peace in the city.

Murad Ali Shah emphasised the need for staging the World XI match next month and Pakistan Hockey League (PHL) matches early next year in the city.

He disclosed that the Sindh government was laying great emphasis on hockey, which is also the national game. “We have laid 11 blue astro turfs across Sindh,” he added.

The chief ministrer said he had also asked the PCB chief to stage international matches in Karachi.

Earlier on arrival at the Edhi Stadium, the chief minister was received by the PHF President retired Brig Khalid Sajjad Khokhar.

A large number of former Olympians were present on the occasion.

Published in Dawn, October 11th, 2017