Army gave a big surprise to fancied Wapda by beating them 1-0 in NBP Gold Cup hockey tournament to take a confident start in the event here on Tuesday at the outer ground of the national hockey stadium here on Tuesday. Former test cricketer Iqbal Qasim who is the Senior Executive Vice-President and Incharge Sports Department, National Bank of Pakistan inaugurated the event. Organising Secretary former Olympian Rana Mujahid Ali, Tournament Director Anjum Saeed, and former Olympians Khawaja Muhammad Junaid, Olympian Muhammad Akhlaq and officials of DHA Lahore were also present.
The opening day of the event proved a nightmare for top notchers as National Bank of Pakistan were held to a 2-2 draw by Sui Southern Gas Company before Army shattered the confidence of Wapda with an unexpected win. Army struck the match winning goal as early as in the third minute of the first half through Fahad Ali off a short corner as there was no scoring in the rest of the play. Wapda a much superior side failed to display their true colour and rhythm and lost the match.
NBP and SSGC played a 1-1 draw at the end of the first half . Bankers drew the lead in the 14th minute when Muhammad Auyb scored a field goal and Adnan leveled from SSGC in the 25thminute. Two minutes into the second half NBP restored edge when Zubair shone in a field attack . SSGC kept their chase to score the equalizer and demonstrated a higher level of hockey in the last ten minutes of play. Their persistent attacking led them to a field goal scored by Arslan Shirazi, four minutes before the end of the match. Matches for tomorrow, Wednesday, PIA vs Customs, Wapda vs SSGC.