Customs secure National Jr Hockey crown
LAHORE, May 20 The newly formed Customs team stole the limelight winning the 29th National Junior Hockey Championship, defeating National Bank of Pakistan (NBP) 2-0 in the final here at the National Hockey Stadium on Thursday.
Customs, which once were a big force in hockey but had failed to win any tournament for more than a decade, earned their first major achievement by claiming the national juniors crown.
Customs led the first half 1-0 as Hafiz Zohaib scored a field goal after a brief melee in front of the goalpost. Salman doubled the lead in the second session with another field attempt in the 58th minute to seal the fate of the match.
Customs earned only one penalty-corner but failed to score. The bankers also squandered three short-corners they received.
Meanwhile, a double strike by Mohammad Aleem Bilal helped Sui Southern Gas Company (SSGC) to seize third place after beating Police 2-1.
Aleem put the SSGC ahead in the 41st minute, converting a short-corner. Eight minutes later, Tasawar Abbas restored parity for Police, scoring on a short-corner. However, Aleem's second goal in the 64th minute steered the SSGC to victory.