Naqi Strikers triumph

Manama : Naqi Strikers KSA defeated Don Bosco Kuwait 7-1 in the final of the Bahrain National Day Hockey 5s two-day field hockey festival hosted and organised by Bahrain Hockey at St Christopher Senior School Bahrain and supported by the UK Embassy and Aqua Cool.

The final match saw four goals by Juned and three by Ali for Naqi Strikers for Don Bosco Kuwait.

In the semi-finals, Don Bosco 4 ( Savio 3, Sarfaraz) beat Oman Hockey Association Oman Veterans 2 (Adil, Tahirl). In another match, Naqi Strikers 5 (Juned Coutinho 4, Qaisar) defeated Young Stars Hockey Club Bahrain 3 (Mudassar 2, Mushtaque).

The first turf Hockey 5s format in the Gulf in accordance with international rules and regulations of FIH (International Hockey Federation) was an open adults tournament day on Friday and yesterday was a free kids coaching and junior 5s tournament.

Guest of Honour was Sam Ward, Team Great Britain and England Hockey forward, with 10 teams competing - Ministry of Interior, Bahrain Hawks, Naqi Strikers KSA Al Arab Hockey KSA, KSA Field Hockey, Kuwait Expats Hockey Association (KEHA), Don Bosco Kuwait, Oman Hockey Association - Oman Veterans, Bahrain Hockey Developmental squad and Young Stars Hockey Club Bahrain.

Free coaching clinics for children concluded yesterday supervised by Sam Ward and the Panthers team beat Baboons to win the Junior Hockey 5s tournament.

Salim Elias, President of Bahrain Hockey, thanked all teams for coming to the tournament and congratulated the winners and runners up and presented a special memento to Sam Ward and thanked him for his support for the event.

General Secretary Jude D’Souza presented a special memento to Abdulrahman Askar, General Secretary of Bahrain Olympic Committee for his support of Bahrain Hockey and the Tournament.