Guard Group defeated Wi-Tribe Shahsawars by 5-3.5 in the Treet Polo Cup 2016 main final played here at the Lahore Polo Club (LPC) ground on Sunday. Former Governor Punjab Lieutenant-General (Retd) Khalid Maqbool was chief guest while Treet Corporation Director Syed Shaharyar Ali, Syed Changez Ali and Syed Aurangzeb Ali were guests of honour. Also present on the occasion were LPC president Irfan Ali Hyder, executive committee members Omer Niazi, Ahmed Nawaz Tiwana, LPC secretary Colonel (Retd) Shoaib Aftab and a larger number of polo lovers.
Saqib Khan Khakwani was hero of the day as he contributed fabulous four goals in his team's title triumph. The remaining goal from the winning side came from Taimur Mawaz Khan. From the losing side, Mumtaz Abbas Niazi scored a brace while Raja Taimur Nadeem contributed one.
The match started at a high pace, as in-form Saqib started the final at high pace as he scored a hat-trick in the first chukker to provide 3-0 lead to Guard Group. In the dying moments, Raja Taimur Nadeem converted a 30-yarder successfully to finish the first chukker at 3-1.
The second chukker saw one goal each from both the sides as Mumtaz Niazi first slammed a field goal to reduce the deficit to 3-2 but Taimur Mawaz pumped in a 30-yarder to enhance Guard Group's lead to 4-2.
Saqib scored his quartet in the third chukker to make it 5-2 and in the fourth and last chukker of the match, Mumtaz Niazi hit a field goal to finish the chukker at 5-3. With half goal handicap advantage for Wi-Tribe Shahsawars, the final score was 5-31/2 declaring Guard Group as victorious.
In the subsidiary final, one and half goal handicap advantage helped Rijas beat Sukh Chan 6.5-6 goals. Ahmed Nawaz Tiwana and Azam Hayat Noon scored a brace each while Atif Yar Tiwana hit one from the winning side. Raja Taimur Nadeem though played superb polo and struck four goals yet he couldn't save his team from facing defeat.
In the end, the chief guest distributed shields and souvenirs among the winners.