Customs become new national hockey champs

KARACHI: Pakistan Customs defeated defending champions Mari Petroleum Company Limited (MPCL) in a penalty shootout to win the final of the 68th DHA Karachi National Hockey Championship.

In the normal contest, both the teams held to a 2-2, while the normal shootout was tied by 3-3. Hence, the finale shootout was stretched to 10 in which Customs emerged victorious by 10-9.

Customs played an aggressive and attacking game, but MPCL netted two goals. Customs dominated the game during the second quarter, continuously attacking MPCL and resulting in three penalty corners and the one was converted by Rana Sohail Riaz, levelling the score at 2-2.

Earlier, MPCL got the lead in the first minute of the first quarter when forward Arshad Liaqat opened the account and netted the field goal. Abdul Mateen scored the second goal in favour of his team. The final match went on the penalty shootout, which was also equalized by 3-3 goals on five penalty shootouts to each team. The score of the final match was 10-9 in favour of Customs.

Chief guest of the final, Lt General Babare Iftikhar, Corps Commander Karachi, gave away the winning trophy to captain Gazanfar of Customs, along with a cheque worth Rs1 million, while runners-up trophy and cash prize of Rs600,000 was given to MPCL.