KARACHI: Beecham Hockey Club carved out 4-3 victory over Hanif Khan XI in the final to win the once postponed Karachi Hockey Association (KHA) inter-club hockey tournament at the Abdul Sattar Edhi Hockey Stadium on Saturday.

Olympian Haseem Khan forged Hanif Khan XI ahead in the ninth minute but the lead was short lived Sibtain drew level through penalty corner in the 29th minute as two teams were tied one-all at half time.

The last two quarters produced five goals — two in the third and three in the fourth.

Ali put Beecham Club in front (2-1) in the 38th minute while Iftikhar consolidated the lead (3-1) in the dying moments of the third quarter.

The Hanif Khan XI fought back and changed the complexion of the match by reducing the deficit (2-3) through Ali Azlan Khan in the 47th minute.

Again Taha surged Beecham ahead (4-2) in the 55th minute while Azlan scored his second goal in the 58th minute to reduce the deficit (3-4) for Hanif Khan XI but it failed to have any impact on the results.

The match was stopped for sometime in the fourth quarter when Fahad Khan of the Hanif Khan XI disputed a decision and misbehaved with the umpire Takreem Iftikhar.

Captain of the Beecham Hockey Club Sibtain received the winning trophy from the chief guest, Director General Audit Sindh Azhar Hameed after the final.

Haseem Khan and Fazeel Khan received the runners-up trophy.

Fazeel Khan of the Hanif Khan XI received the top scorer award while Syed Mohammad Saad Ali of Zaheer XI picked up the best player of the tournament award.

The best goalkeeper award went to Taimur of the Gulberg Hockey Club.

The KHA president Dr Syed Junaid Ali Shah, secretary KHA Haider Hussain, Waseeq Ahmed, Chaudhry Ashraf, former Olympians Jahangir Butt, Hanif Khan, Waseem Feroz, Shahid Ali Khan, Mansoor Ahmed, Dr Asma Ali Shah and Gulfraz Khan were prominent among others who were present on the occasion.

Students of different local schools, scouts and bands were also in attendance.

Published in Dawn November 6th, 2016