NBP edge SSGC to retain national hockey title

Defending champions National Bank of Pakistan (NBP) carved out a nailbiting 54 victory over stubborn Sui Southern Gas Company (SSGC) on penalty shootouts after being tied one-all in regulation time to win the title for an overall fifth time as curtain fell on the 65th retired Air Marshal Nur Khan National Hockey Championship at the Abdul Sattar Edhi Hockey Stadium.

Mubashir Ali efficiently converted penalty corner in the 21st minute for the SSGC while the NBP drew level through Arsalan Qadir, also off PC in the 50th minute.

Later the bankers availed all five penalty strokes as against four capitalised by the SSGC.

Arsalan Qadir, Dilber Hussain, Faizan Ali, Abu Bakar and Junaid Manzoor scored for NBP on strokes while Ali Shan, Rana Sohail, Muneeb-urRehman and Ahmed Nadeem scored for SSGC. Rana Sohail missed his opportunity.

Winning captain Ammad Butt accompanied by other teammates received the glittering trophy amidst applause from the Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah, who graced the final.

Also present at the presentation besides the PHF hierarchy were retired Vice Admiral Arifullah Hussaini and the Commissioner Karachi Iftikhar Ali Shallwani.

Earlier, before the final the two teams were introduced to the Pakistan Olympic Association (POA) President retired Lt Gen Syed Arif Hasan.

Speaking on the occasion the chief minister expressed his dismay over the decline of national game for the last couple of years.

He said Sindh government had supported the PHF in the past besides releasing another Rs25m recently for the revival of the game.

Paying rich tributes to Nur Khan, he said his contribution was unparalleled in the field of sports and the PHF has acknowledged it.

A large number of guests, former players and spectators wore black arm bands to show solidarity with the people of Kashmir. A one-minute silence was also observed for the late retired Brig Abdul Hamid 'Hamidi' and K. M. Aslam on the occasion.