Ahmed Ali Tiwana led Rijas-Waste Busters to victory in the final of the Bank of Punjab Lahore Open Polo Tournament here at the Lahore Polo Club’s Aibak ground on Sunday. In the final, Rijas-Waste Busters’ combined team had to fight all ends to not only block Santiago Mendivil stride towards title, but also ensure their lead remained intact till the final hooter. Ahmed Ali was leading scorer from the winner’s side with five goals albeit Santiago Mendivil was in total control with six goals in his team’s PICIC Insurance’s 7-8 loss to Ali Tiwana’s side in which Ahmed Nawaz Tiwana and Atif Yar Tiwana had also contributed two and one goal respectively.
The action started from the very first chukker when PICIC was leading the match 4-3. Santiago converted three goals while Naveed M Sheikh scored one in the opening chukker while despite opening the attack, Ahmed Ali got two goals while Ahmed Nawaz hit one to finish the first quarter. Ahmed then took his team a goal ahead by scoring two back to back goals in the second chukker while the third chukker was a tit-for-tat affair in which four goals were scored with Santiago producing the first and third of the quarter while Ahmed Ali and Atif Ali managed one each. Rijas were already a goal ahead by the close of third chukker (7-6) and then Ahmed Nawaz extended the lead 8-6 to start the final session. But just before the close of the game, Santiago with his solo effort took the score to 7-8 with Rijas winning the match. Later, Managing Director WAPDA Tahir Basharat Cheema presented the winners’ trophies and other shields to Rijas and Waste Busters quartet. Earlier in the day, Olympia beat Guard Group 8-7. Hamza Mawaz Khan and Abdul Rehman Monnoo made the win possible for Olympia while Taimur Ali Malik, Raja Samiullah and Raja Temur Nadeem tried their best to get close to win. The matches were supervised by Shah Shamyl Alam, Raja Remur Nadeem and Agha Murtaza Ali Khan.
