Kathmandu: Koshi Province and Gandaki Provinces registered first wins in the men’s and women’s categories of the National Hockey Tournament at the Chyasal Football Ground, Thursday.

The men’s category saw Koshi edge Madhesh 5-3 while debutant Nepal APF Club and Bagmati settled for a 0-0 stalemate. In the only match of the women’s category, Gandaki secured a narrow 2-1 win over Bagmati.

Laxman Samariya scored a hat-trick for Koshi while Aryan Chaudhary and Sudeep Chaudhary added a goal each as they earned three points. Rupesh Kumar Rai scored twice for Mahesh and Ajay Kumar Sah added another. Koshi’s Laxman was named player-of-the-match and received a purse of Rs2,000.

Koshi are drawn in Group ‘A’ along with Tribhuvan Army Club, Gandaki and Madhesh. Army had won their first match on Wednesday, defeating Gandaki 3–0. Group ‘B’ features Nepal Police Club, Karnali Province, APF and Bagmati Province. APF and Bagmati shared a point each following the draw.

Gandaki made a winning start to their campaign after Mayuri Rai and Geeta Pun Magar scored one goal each. Mayuri was named player-of-the-match. 

The women’s event participated by four teams – Army, Gandaki, Madhesh and Bagmati is being held in a round-robin league format. The top two teams after the league stage will compete in the final.