Correct Answer:
C. WAPDA.
Explanation:
The correct answer is WAPDA. because the Water and Power Development Authority squad secured the 2026 championship title by defeating KRL in the grand final.
- Step 1 (Final Result): In the tournament final played at the KPT Football Stadium in Karachi on February 15, 2026, WAPDA defeated Khan Research Laboratories (KRL) with a narrow 1-0 scoreline thanks to a late goal by Muhammad Samnan.
- Step 2 (Historic Hat-trick): With this critical victory, WAPDA successfully defended its championship title and achieved a historic hat-trick of consecutive National Challenge Cup tournament wins (2021, 2024, and 2026).
- Incorrect Options:
- KRL is incorrect because they finished the tournament as runners-up after failing to score in the final match.
- Army is incorrect because the Pakistan Army squad fell short in the semi-finals, losing out before the title match.
- Navy is incorrect because the Pakistan Navy team failed to progress through to the knockout stages from the group rounds.