ISLAMABAD - Sindh defeated Army 28-27 in a nail-biting final to clinch the PNA 14th National Women Netball Championship 2015 title here at Hamidi Hall, Pakistan Sports Complex Tuesday.
The fully entertaining was witnessed by enthusiastic pack to capacity crowd which supported Army more than Sindh. It was such a thriller that nobody could guess who would be the eventual winner till last moments of the match. Army had services of player like Ayesha Dilsahd, while Sindh was depending top goal attacker Quratulain. Both the girls lived up to the occasion and played sheet anchor roles for their respective teams.
The first quarter started on a whirlwind fashion as both the teams attacked each others’ half and soon managed to score one goal each. The first quarter ended with both Army and Sindh locked at 4-4. It was almost identical situation in the second quarter as both the teams scored four more goals to make it 8-8, but in the dying moments of the quarter, Army took a slight lead to finish the quarter at 9-8.
Sindh entered the third quarter with more agility and aggressive approach which paid great dividend as they managed to score six goals while Army could collect only four, as Sindh was enjoying one-goal lead. Both the teams had left with no other option but to take power play in the fourth and final quarter. Sindh tried to contain Army, but heroics of Ayesha almost provided title victory Army as she scored twice from outside the circle, which resulted in eight goals for her team. When everything was in favour of Army in the dying moments of the match, Sindh suddenly bounced back and took a commanding eight-goal lead with only three minutes left to play in the final, but Ayesha made the difference and helped Army, which was in one-goal deficit till the final minute, take one-goal lead.
It was star of the day Quratulain who saved the day for Sindh as in the dying seconds of the match, she scored a goal from within the circle, which provided Sindh one-goal lead which was enough to secure title triumph for Sindh girls. Army girls launched severe protest against what they claimed biased refereeing and were not ready to collect medals, but on the intervention of senior Army official, they finally agreed to attend the prize distribution ceremony. The crowd was also shouting foul, foul, but the journalists and other neutral persons present on the occasion didn’t feel any foul play or any kind of favouritism for Sindh. It was fair and transparent refereeing by Anwar and Shazia, while Shahid Amin was official scorer.
It was a classic final, which would be remembered for years to come, as it was played although in high tempo, but at the end, players of both the team shook hands and rivalry was buried at the venue. Ayesha scored 25 goals for Army, while Quratulain slammed 22 for Sindh. Earlier for the third position match, HEC thrashed Punjab 26-7 goals. Sadaf scored 16 goals, while Razia hit 10 goals for the winners.
Punjab Netball Association (PNA) president Syed Shahryar Ali graced the occasion as chief guest, while Pakistan Netball Federation (PNF) secretary Mudassar Arain, PSB Director General Dr Akhtar Nawaz Ganjera, DDG facilities Agha Amjed Ullah, director national federations Azam Dar, assistant director hostels Malik Imtiaz Hussain, director media Shazia Ijaz and others witnessed the entertaining final. The chief guest awarded trophy, medals and Rs50,000 cash to champions Sindh while Army received runners-up trophy, medals and Rs30,000 cash and HEC got trophy, medals and Rs20,000 cash.
Ayesha Dilshad received the highest scorer award while best goal shooter award went to Umama Qadri, best goal attacker awards to Quratulain, best wing attacker awards to Nimra, best center award to Nayab Razia, best wing defense to Masooma, best goal defense to Hina Raffique and best goalkeeper award to Saima.