Big stick
By
By Abeer Anwar
POLAND took first place in the 5th Akhbar Al-Youm international field hockey championship staged from 8-14 March, writes Abeer Anwar.
Pakistan took second place with 12 points while India, which took the crown in the tournament's second and third year, dropped to third, losing to Poland and Pakistan in the process.
Defending champions Egypt retreated to fourth place with eight points. Scotland finished in fifth place and Greece seventh.
Poland ended up with 16 points collected from five wins and a draw against Pakistan.
The country, playing in its first Akhbar Al-Youm tournament, won the silver medal at the world indoors championship in Germany last month.
Belal Ibrahim from Egypt was named top scorer, Salman Ali of Pakistan took best goalkeeping honours and Scotland best sportsmanship.
"The championship was very beneficial for the players," said Essam Keshk, Egyptian Hockey Federation secretary-general. "They were introduced to a number of various schools of hockey in preparation for the All-Africa Games in October in Nigeria." Admission into the Games automatically assures a place in the 2004 Athens Olympics.
Keshk thanked Akhbar Al-Youm for organising the event which is held annually.
