Pak Heroes Hockey Club won the 9-A-Side Hockey Series on the basis of Sudden Death Penalty Shootouts. The special guest of the closing ceremony, Olympian Tahir Zaman, presented trophies and prizes to the winners.
Pak Heroes Club Lahore won the 9-A-Side Hockey Series consisting of four teams under the auspices of Dar Hockey Academy Lahore. The semi-finals and finals of the event were played yesterday at the National Hockey Stadium, Astroturf Ground No. 2, Lahore. In the first semi-final, Pak Heroes Club Lahore defeated Dar Hockey Academy Colors 0-4 to reach the final. Salman on behalf of Pak Heroes Club, International Azfar Yaqub, International Hanan Shahid and Arslan Shiekh played key roles in their team’s victory by scoring goals. The second semi-final was played between Aitchison Boys Campus (CC Club) and Dar Hockey Academy Whites, which Dar Hockey Academy won 0-2. Happy and Ali Aziz from Dar Hockey Academy led their team to the final by scoring a goal.
Under the auspices of Dar Hockey Academy, an exciting and thrilling final of the 9-A-Side Hockey Series was played between Pak Heroes Hockey Club Lahore and Dar Hockey Academy. Both the teams could score 3-3 against each other till the appointed time and the match ended in a draw. Azfar Yaqub International, a leading player of the National Hockey Squad, including Hanan Shahid and Arslan Shiekh, scored goals for Pak Heroes, while the youngsters from Dar Academy scored goals and talented players including Adeel, Farhan, experienced, confident and professional player Ali Aziz scored goals. Later, penalty shootouts were imposed by both teams. This stage was also drawn and the Sudden Death Penalty Shootout stage was in favour of Pak Heroes and the players of Pak Heroes Hockey Club were declared the winners.
This wonderful and thrilling final was supervised by International Hockey Empire Hafiz Atif Malik and Mushtaq (WAPDA). Special guests at the closing ceremony were FIH High-Performance Coach, 1994 World Champion, Pride of Performance Olympian Tahir Zaman and former goalkeeper and sports organizer Shakir Munir (Muscat). Distinguished guests were warmly welcomed on arrival at the stadium. 1984 Los Angeles Olympic Gold Medalist, Director Dar Hockey Academy, Olympian Tauqeer Dar introduced the distinguished guests to the players and officials. Secretary Dar Hockey Academy Irfan Zia, Muhammad Yaqub International, Waheed Mirza International Muhmmed Shahid Internal, Ijaz Chudhery, Ran Sabtain Internal Technical Official M Shafiq Bhatti well-known businessman and former national hockey player Amir Sheikh (City Breads) were also present on the occasion.