Wateen become new National Polo Champion

LAHORE - Wateen, the sister organization of the title sponsors Bank Alfalah, as predicted won the 2009 National Championship for Quaid-i-Azam Gold Cup with little resistance coming from Hilton Pharama in the final here at the century old Lahore Polo Club's Aibak Ground on Sunday. The sponsors Bank Alfalah which entered the event under Royal Banking banner got the subsidiary final win in the presence of chief guest Parvez Shahid, who is the co-chairman of the bank. Wateen and Hilton stayed neck to neck by the fourth chukker in a game of fluctuating fortunes that separated them 7-5 margin but the winners dominated entirely the fifth session. It was tussle of foreign players as the game started. Gaston Moore of Wateen and James Harper of Hilton kept their teams in the hunt in the first two quarters. But Harper lost his grip by the third chukker on the other hand Moore improved his control. Both these rival players converted four goals each for their teams while John Fisher of Hilton added one to the total of five. And When Moore was covered up by Wateen riders, he masterminded two beautiful openings to let Naveed Sheikh and Mian Hussain Iftikhar do the required and at last Iftikhar's long lofted cut shot sealed the win for Wateen. The Royal Banking outplayed the combined team of Tip Moor Al Khan-Rangers 6-2. Alejandro Astrada, Saqib Khan Khakwani, Zain Khan Khakwani and Usman Haye prevailed over the rivals throughout the game. Satrada and Saqib got two goals each while Usman and Zain shared one apiece for Bank Alfalah Royal Banking's win while Maj Usman and Tomas Pieres converted one goal each from the losing side. The final and subsidiary final did not carry the thrill on which the entire tournament was played and after watching the matches from across the line, the players and the horses looked lethargic with little efforts from either sides. However, the presence of foreign players did made some portions of the game exciting otherwise it was a dull affair. The matches were supervised by Tony Keyte and Asif Tiwana. Teams: Tip Moor Al Khan & Rangers: Dr. Kamran Zaidi, Ashfaq Ahmad, Tomas Pieres, Maj. Usman. Bank Alfalah Royal Banking: Usman Haye, Saqib Khan Khakwani, Alejandro Astrada, Zain Khakwani. Hilton Pharma: Shahid Hayat, Taimur Ali Malik,James Harper, John Fisher. Wateen: Mian Hussain Iftikhar, Favio Lavinia, Gaston Moore, Naveed M Sheikh.

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