Golden glory for Wapda in women's softball, badminton.

QUETTA -- Wapda's women's softball team bagged the first gold on offer at the National Games before their women's badminton team, lead by Pakistan's top-ranked Mahoor Shehzad, brought them more glory here on Tuesday.

Pakistan Army took gold in the men's badminton team event and their women's hockey team advanced to the final where it will face Wapda.

Madiha, Ayesha and Noreena scored three runs apiece as Wapda overcame Army by an innings and three runs (13-10) in the women's softball final at the Balochistan University of Information Technology, Engineering and Management Sciences cricket ground.

Higher Education Commission took bronze, denying hosts Balochistan a first medal at the Games they are hosting for the first time in almost two decades, with a 21-4 victory on the mercy rule in the fourth innings of the third-place playoff.

Mahoor teamed up with Ghazala Siddique as the duo helped Wapda see off Army 3-0 in the women's badminton final. Army's hopes were ht in the first single when Alja Tariq retired while leading 6-5 against Mahoor, who then joined Ghazala in beating Manal Tariq and Umama Usman 21-15, 21-15 in the doubles. Ghazala then downed Ammarah Ishtiaq 21-14, 21-10 in the second singles match.

Army cruised past Punjab 3-0 in the men's final, which was also played at the Saifullah Magsi Badminton Court of the Ayub Sports Complex.

Uzair Khan overwhelmed Abuzar RasAheed 21-17, 21-14 before Raja Muhammad Hasnain and Raja Zulqarnain Haider crushed Abdul Manan and Burhan Yaseen in the doubles 21-10, 21-4 with Anjum Bashir closing the win with a hard-fought 20-22, 21-12, 21-17 triumph over Shahzaib Shabbir.

Army's women's hockey team will have a chance to avenge the defeats of their softball and badminton counterparts to Wapda after they romped past HEC 3-0 in their semi-final at the Nawab Ghous Bakhsh Hockey Stadium with goals by Saira Khanum, Sahil Malik and Taskeen Kasur.

Defending champions Wapda went a goal better as they outclassed Punjab 4-0 with Sidra Hakeem bagging a brace while Maria Sabir and Humaira Lateef got a goal apiece.

Wapda are also the holders in men's hockey and they reached the semi-finals alongside Army, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Pakistan Air Force.

Wapda gave a measure of their strength when they crushed Balochistan 9-0 in their last-eight clash with Ijaz Ahmed getting a hat-trick and Romman and Rana Waheed hitting the cage twice.

Army had Waseem Akram's...