PESHAWAR
University of Central Punjab clinched the trophy after defeating strong Punjab University in the final of the All Pakistan Inter-Varsity Men Hockey Championship played under the aegis of the Directorate of Sports Islamia College University Peshawar here at Lala Ayub Hockey Stadium on Thursday.
Director General Sports Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Khalid Khan was the chief guest on this occasion. Olympian Muhammad Usman, Olympian Kashif Ahmad, Secretary Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Hockey Association Haji Hidayat Ullah, Field Judge Zia Ur Rehman, former hockey star Mujahid Mana, Engr. Aurangzeb, a Senior Alumina of Islamia College University Peshawar, and Director Sports and Organizing Secretary Ali Hoti were also present.
University of Central Punjab Lahore played an excellent game by putting under tremendous pressure but conceding an early goal lead when Punjab University took the lead through center striker Yasir Ali on the field attempt.
The early goal lead kept up more pressure on University of Central Punjab team but their players played well and soon Rana Danish slammed in a beautiful goal on the penalty corner conversion in the first quarter of the final.
University of Central Punjab managed their position and made some good attacking moves as a result it was Rana Danish who succeeded in equalizing the lead soon after the team conceded a goal. It was the second quarter when Rana Danish scored another goal on the penalty corner conversion by making the tally 2-1.
In the fourth and last quarters Mudassar Ali and Mohammad Arsal scored one goal each in the 57th and 58th minutes from University of Central Punjab to guide the team to 4-1 victory. In the third position match, Government College University Faisalabad defeated NUML Islamabad by 7-0. Faisalabad’s Usman Rehman scored three goals while Mohsin, Mohammad Nadeem scored one goal each and Rohail scored two goals in the dying moments. NUML after conceding seven goals did not match up to the pressure put in by Government College University Faisalabad and thus beaten up by a tennis goal margin 7-0.
At the end, Director General Sports Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Khalid Khan along with two hockey Olympians Muhammad Usman and Kashif Ahmad besides awarding cash prizes of Rs. 90,000 to winner team, Rs. 72,000 to the runners-up and Rs. 54000 to third position holders. A total of 11 teams from as many Universities participated in the Championship.
