KARACHI: Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) beat Habib Bank Limited (HBL) 3-0 in the inaugural match of the 59th National Hockey Championship at the Hockey Club of Pakistan (HCP) here on Thursday.

Adnan Anwar (11th min), Shafqat Rasool (20th min) and Yasir Aslam (22nd min) gave PIA an early lead. The 3-0 score line in PIA’s favour remained so until the final whistle. The championship was declared open by Sindh Minister for Sports Dr Mohammad Ali Shah.

Chairperson PHF Women Wing MNA Khushbakht Shujaat, Chief Selector Olympian Abdul Hanif Khan, Olympian Iftikhar Syed, Olympian Danish Kaleem, Organising Secretary Mohammad Farooq Khan and Tournament Director Olympian Ahmed Alam were also present on the occasion.

Earlier in the day, Pakistan Air Force (PAF) and defending champions National Bank of Pakistan (NBP) won their matches while Sui Southern Gas Company (SSGC) held Wapda to a draw.

PAF edged past Port Qasim Authority (PQA) 2-1. Asif Manzoor (fourth min) and Rao Amir (14th min) got PAF ahead and Abu Bakar (21st min) reduced the margin for PQA.

Last year’s champions NBP gave Navy a 4-0 thrashing. The goals were scored by Umar Bhutta (sixth min), Mohammad Rizwan (27th min), Sibtain Raza (38th min) and Ali Shan (60th min). Wapda and SSGC played a 1-1 draw. All of Wapda’s joy and enthusiasm at Aleem Bilal’s goal in the very first minute was neutralized when Zeeshan Bukhari restored parity for SSGC in the 66th minute.

Friday’s fixtures: Navy v PHF Academy (11.00am); SSGC v HBL (1.00pm); PIA v Army (3.00pm).