Sports Bulletin

Sports Bulletin KARACHI:-The local golfer from Karachi Golf Club (KGC) earned a vital lead in the Pakistan Open Golf Championship 2022 that teed off on Thursday here. In the combined category of Professionals and Amateurs, Waheed Baloch of Karachi Golf Club is leading with five under par on the completion of first day. Defending Champion Shabbir Iqbal and Sajjad Khan of ICGC along with Ansar Mehmood of MGC were behind him with joint score of four under par. Total 109 professionals and amateurs participated on day one. The brilliant aspect of UMA 48th Pakistan Open Golf is that PGF has selected top ranked Amateurs to play and compete with top ranked Professionals from the same tee thus providing chance to top amateurs to compete with Professionals. According to PGF selection criteria, out of five mandatory championships, PGF considers only National Amateur held in 2021 in Peshawar. Based on this criteria, PGF has taken top ten National World Amateur Golf Ranking (WAGR) players. Top ten in the list of 61st National Amateur Golf Championship in Male Amateur category and top ten ranked players in PGF National Amateur Rankings. Hence, common Top 15 selected for participation. Tournament Director Col Zahid Iqbal said, “PGF aims to train Amateurs for competing in the international tournaments. This decision will improve the quality of game in amateur category as in the past some amateurs have also won Pakistan Open.” Waheed Baloch of Karachi Golf Club recently claimed title of 11th Rashid D Habib Golf Tournament and has benefits of home ground, came up as challenge Shabbir would face. UMA 48th Pakistan Open Golf 2022 has the highest prize money of PKR 10 Million, with return Dubai ticket along with golf rounds as Hole-in-One prize for the first claim.” The Championship will be played over 72 holes of stroke play (18 holes each day) & 151 Professional Golfers along with Top ranked Amateurs from all over the country participated in order to contest & claim the title of Pakistan Champion for the year 2021-22. The Championship will be played stroke play under three categories Professionals/ Amateurs (72 Holes), Senior Professionals (54 Holes) & Junior Professionals (54 Holes).

Asif Azeem KARACHI (January 27, 2022):-The second Round of the Combaxx Sports Sindh Satellite Squash Championship 2022 for Men’s and Women’s played on Thursday at Roshan Khan Jahangir Khan Squash Complex Karachi under the banner of Sindh Squash Association (SSA). Results (Day-2): Women’s Category Zaynab Khan bt Alina Zehra (3-0) 11/5 11/3 11 /3 (13 min) Mehvish Ali bt 5 Fehmina Asim (3-1) 7/11 11/9 12/10 11/6 (19 min) Sana Bahadur bt Manahil Aqeel (3-0) 11/1 11/5 11/3 (10 min) Mustaf Anum Aziz bt Iqra Shah (3-0) 11/4 11/3 11/5 (16 min) Rooshna Mehboob bt Hira Aqeel (3-0) 11/7 11/4 11/1 (14 min) Aiman Shahbaz bt Aina Shaikh (3-0) 11/5 11/3 11/4 (12 min) Ilsa Imran bt 8 Komal khan (3-2) 7/11 11/8 4/11 11/9 11/3 (29 min) Noor ul Huda bt Aina Aziz (3-0) 11/1 11/3 11/2 (14 min) Men’s Category: Naveed Rehman bt Tayyab Rauf (3-0) 11/6 11/4 11/7 (19 min) Mutahir Ali bt Anas Khan (3-1) 10/12 11/9 11/2 11/8 (31 min) Uzair Shoukat bt Zeeshan Malik (3-0) 11/9 13/11 7/2(Rtd) (16 min) Junaid Khan bt Faizan Khan (3-0) 11/3 11/7 12/10 (22 min) Ashab Irfan bt Mohammad Ammad (3-1) 9/11 11/8 11/3 11/3 (32 min) Huzaifa Shahid bt Talha Saeed (3-0) 11/2 11/5 11/9 (16 min) Khushal Riaz bt Noman Khan (3-0) 11/8 11/6 11/9 (26 min) Saeed Abdul bt Khakan Malik (3-0) 11/8 11/7 11/7 (22 min) Boys’ Under-19: Ashab Irfan bt Anas Khan (3-1) 8/11 11/4 11/5 11/5 (22 min) Mehmood Mehboob bt Abu Bakr (3-0) 11/7 11/8 11/8 (18 min) Anas Ali Bokhari bt Mohammad Ammad (3-0) 11/2 11/7 11/8 (25 min) Junaid Khna bt 3 Tayyab Rauf (3-1) 4/11 11/9 11/8 11/9 (38 min) Fawad Hussain bt Asher Butt (3-2) 8/11 11/7 9/11 11/3 11/9 (48 min) Ahad Shoukat bt Abdullah Khan (3-1) 11/3 11/3 7/11 11/5 (22 min) Mutahir Ali bt Nouman Khan (3-0) 11/7 11/5 14/12 (28 min) Khushal Riaz bt Khakan Malik (3-0) 13/11 11/9 11/5 (26 min) Results (Quarter Finals): Women’s Category Zaynab Khan bt Mehbvish Ali (3-0) 11/2 11/4 11/7 (17 min) Anum Mustafa bt Sana Bahadur (3-2) 5/11 11/7 11/9 5/11 11/9 (31 min) Rooshna Mehboob Aiman Shahbaz (3-0) 11/3 11/4 11/4 (12 min) Noor ul Huda bt Ilsa Imran (3-0) 11/8 11/2 11/7 (12 min) Men’s Category Naveed Rehman bt Mutahir Ali (3-1) 11/7 15/13 5/11 11/3 (29 min) Uzair Shoukat bt Junaid Khan (3-0) 11/711/7 11/5 (18 min) Ashab Irfan bt Huzaifa Shahid (3-10 11/13 11/6 11/5 11/5 (40 min) Saeed Abdul bt Khushal Riaz (3-0) 11/6 11/9 11/6 (24 min) Boys’ Under-19: Asheb Irfan bt Mehmood Mehboob (3-1) 10/12 11/5 11/4 11/6 (29 min) Anas Ali Bokhari bt Junaid Khan (3-0) 11/8 11/6 12/10 (20 min) Fawad Hussain bt Ahad Shoukat (3-2) 11/5 5/ 11 2/11 11/4 11/9 (38 min) Khushal Riaz bt Mutahir Ali (3-2) 6/11 11/5 11/4 10/12 11/5 (39 min)

Sports Bulletin ISLAMABAD:-The Punjab Open Chess Championship will be held on February 6, 2022 at Pakistan Sports Board (PSB) Training Center, Ferozpur Road Lahore. According to an official, the top national chess players will take part in the event, as the tournament will be held in three categories including Men’s, Women’s and Under-20. Top ten men, top for women and top four Under-20 players will be awarded cash prizes. February 5, 2022 will be the last date for entries. Players can contact Waqas Dogger at 0092-322-4406210 for their entries.

Abdul Jabbar Faisal ISLAMABAD:-Pakistan number one tennis player, Aqeel Khan has won the title of the Inspector Mian Imran Abbas Shaheed Tennis Tournament after outplaying Danish Ahmed in straight sets 2-0 in the final that held at Shalimar Club Rawalpindi. The final score-line was 6-1 and 6-2. Earlier, in the third position play-off fixture, Hassan Ishaaq defeated Altaf Hussain 2-0 quite easily with the score-line of 6-1 and 6-1. Major General Rehan Abdul Baqi graced the closing ceremony as chief guest and gave away the prizes to the players. On this occasion, army man appreciated the efforts of Inam- ul-Haq for naming the tennis tournaments Shohadas, as the each month two tournaments are being organized to tribute the Shohada, who sacrificed their lives for the country. He also appreciated the efforts of Punjab Lawn Tennis Association (PLTA) for sponsoring the Shodaha's tournament and he assured organizers that he would sponsor the shodaha's tournament in future.  Director tournament thanked chief guest for sparing time for prize distribution from his busy schedule. Inam-ul-Haq also thanked Iftakhar Ahmad Rao chairman PLTA and Rasheed Malik sectary general PLTA for sponsoring tournament. Inam announced on this occasion that the prestigious Quaid-e-Azam Tennis Tournament would be staged next week at the same venue. The widow of inspector Mian Imran Abbas shaheed was present at the ceremony. Major Gernel Rehan Abdul Baqi presented the shield on behalf PLTA to the widow. Aqeel Khan presented the shield to the chief guest on the behalf of PLTA.

Sports Bulletin ISLAMABAD:-A blistering display with the bat by Jacob Bethell helped England advance to the semi-finals of the Super League in a six-wicket win over South Africa. Bethell was one of the bowlers to restrict South Africa to 209 all out before hitting 88 to see England set up a clash with either Sri Lanka or Afghanistan. Matthew Welch’s 78 helped Zimbabwe to set Scotland a tricky chase of 249 in their Plate quarter-final. Scotland were unable to build partnerships as they slumped to 140 all out to see Zimbabwe advance to meet Ireland. They will be joined in the semi-finals by the hosts West Indies who were too good for Papua New Guinea in a 169-run win. The West Indies will now face the United Arab Emirates, while Papua New Guinea are set to take on Uganda in the Plate play-offs. Bethell’s batting masterclass sets England up for victory over South Africa South Africa endured a slow start having won the toss and chosen to bat, their first boundary came off the final ball of the fourth over, before Joshua Boyden dismissed Valentine Kitime off the next delivery. Boyden would claim his 12th wicket of the tournament to send the other opener Ethan-John Cunningham back to the hutch and reduce South Africa to 21 for two. Dewald Brevis and Gerhardus Maree combined to steady the South African ship, adding 55 runs to the total before Bethell dismissed Maree as he played and missed. Brevis remained a familiar stronghold for South Africa as he brought up his fourth fifty-plus score in a row eventually falling just short of a century on 97. His dismissal brought about a batting collapse for South Africa as three wickets fell for one run as the batters went in search of boundaries, but only found the grateful hands of fielders with Rehan Ahmed claiming figures of four for 48. The final-wicket partnership of Matthew Boast and Asakhe Tsaka frustrated England adding 40 as South Africa ended on 209 all out. Bethell came out all guns blazing in England’s chase, hitting the fourth fastest half-century of ICC U19 Men’s Cricket World Cup history, reaching fifty off just 20 balls, as the Young Lions went at over 10 an over. George Thomas was a delighted onlooker at the non-striker’s end only moving into double figures in the tenth over, before smacking a six to bring up England’s hundred. South Africa finally struck as Bethell went for one heave too many but not before he had put on 88 from 42 deliveries to place England as overwhelming favourites. That tag was backed up by good partnerships in the top order, before William Luxton came in at five to strike 47 from 41 balls and get England into the semi-finals with a six. Zimbabwe too good for Scotland as Plate quarter-finals draw to a close After seeing his opening partner Emmanuel Bawa fall for three runs, Matthew Welch added 32 runs for the second wicket alongside Panashe Taruvinga, with Taruvinga contributing just three runs before being dismissed by Jack Jarvis. Welch then advanced passed fifty, as did Brian Bennett whose 54 off 58 balls helped Zimbabwe reach 155 in the 31st over. Bennett was then forced to go, bowled leg before wicket by Lyle Robertson as he was replaced in the middle by another Bennett, David, who worked with Welch to move Zimbabwe closer to 200 before Welch fell for 78. Jarvis then swung the game back in Scotland’s favour taking two wickets in two balls to reduce Zimbabwe to 221 for seven and remove the dangerous Rogan Wolhuter. His hat-trick ball came in his next over and while he could not get the scalp of Tendekai Mataranyika he soon bowled Connor Mitchell to leave Zimbabwe reeling. Alex Falao was the final wicket to fall as Zimbabwe ended on 248 all out, meaning Scotland would have to post their highest score of the tournament to win. In reply, Scotland were restricted by good bowling from Zimbabwe, Charlie Tear was first to go bowled leg before wicket by Mcgini Dube before Bennett and Bawa got in on the act. Left-arm spinner Mitchell then picked up the next three wickets as Scotland slumped to 105 for six with 26 overs remaining. Scotland’s collapse continued as Bennet also claimed a threefer including the final wicket of Ruaridh McIntyre to bowl out Scotland for a 108-run win and to advance to the Plate League semi-finals. Hosts on all-round fire in Papua New Guinea win The home side were in blistering form as they took on Papua New Guinea in the final Plate quarter-final. Shaqkere Parris and Matthew Nandu combined at the top of the order to add 155 runs before the first wicket fell, Parris caught behind off the bowling off Rasan Kevau. Nandu kept scoring alongside Teddy Bishop before he had to go –  playing and missing a good ball from Patrick Nou. Captain Nandu would eventually bring up his hundred on the final ball of the 42nd over, sweeping for four to earn his first century of the tournament, the landmark coming from 112 balls. Alongside Kevin Wickham, Nandu kept pushing the Windies’ total higher reaching 128 before a late fight back by Boio Ray. Nandu was the first of Ray’s victims as he claimed three wickets in the penultimate over, the West Indies eventually ended with an imposing 317 for six. Ray could not add to his heroics as he was bowled first ball by Nathan Edward and was soon joined in the dugout by Peter Karoho and captain Barnabas Maha as PNG slipped to 56 for three. Opener Christopher Kilapat then looked to dig in but was eventually out having scored just five from 46 balls. Not content with top scoring with the bat, Nandu then took two wickets in two balls as Papua New Guinea’s hopes of a win grew slimmer. Aue Oru reached 27 not out to be Papua New Guinea’s top scorer but his 52-ball innings was in vain as Rasan Kevau was run out on seven to see his side fall 169 runs short of their target.

Sports Bulletin ISLAMABAD:-South Africa batters Quinton de Kock and Rassie van der Dussen have made huge gains in the MRF Tyres ICC Men’s ODI Player Rankings after helping their team complete a memorable 3-0 series win over India. De Kock is in the top five for the first time since the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2019 after aggregating 229 runs that included a match-winning 124 in the final match in Cape Town. The wicketkeeper-batter has moved up four places after his Player of the Series effort. Van der Dussen, who scored 218 runs, has advanced 10 places to reach a career-best 10th position. Captain Temba Bavuma has also made huge progress, reaching a career-best 59th position from 80th before the latest weekly update which also includes the Afghanistan-Netherlands series and the last match of the Sri Lanka-Zimbabwe series. Opener Shikhar Dhawan, the leading scorer for India against South Africa with 169 runs, has moved up one place to 15th in the list led by Pakistan captain Babar Azam with Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma in second and joint-third positions, respectively. Rishabh Pant is up five places to 82nd. Afghanistan batter Rahmat Shah’s aggregate of 153 runs against the Netherlands has lifted him seven places to joint-36th while Hashmatullah Shahidi is up nine places to 53rd. For the Netherlands, Scott Edwards’s series-topping 208 runs see him move up 97 places to 100th. Charith Asalanka of Sri Lanka is another one to progress, from 52nd to a career-best 46th position. South Africa’s bowlers too have significant gains in Wednesday’s update. Fast bowler Lungi Ngidi is back in the top 20 after five wickets in the series and spinner Keshav Maharaj is at a career-best 33rd position. Andile Phehlukwayo is up seven places to 52nd after taking six wickets in the series. In the MRF Tyres ICC Men’s T20I Player Rankings, England batter Jason Roy’s 45-run knock in the second match against the West Indies has helped him move up one place to 15th while West Indies’ Brandon King is up 28 places to 88th thanks to his unbeaten 52 in the first match. In the bowlers’ list, Jason Holder is up to a career-best 26th following his haul of four for seven that won him the Player of the Match award in the first match. His team-mate Akeal Hosein bowled economically to gain 40 places and reach 33rd after the first two matches.

Sports Bulletin KARACHI (January 26, 2022):-Top national golfer Shabbir Iqbal will defend his title, as the 72 holes 48th Pakistan Open Golf Championship will start from Thursday (January 27) at Karachi Golf Club (KGC) Karachi. Final round will be played on January 30 at the same venue. Defending Champion Shabbir Iqbal, who was recently titled leader of Sindh Open Golf 2022, is all set and looks in full form to complete with his challengers. Waheed Baloch of Karachi Golf Club will have benefits of home ground, as he had edged Shabbir in 11th Rashid D Habib Golf and he may be a challenge for him. The most important National Golf Championship, Pakistan Open Golf is all set to tee off on its 48th edition with sponsorship by United Marine Agencies and is one of the most prominent golf events in PGF's calendar.  Tournament Director- Lieutenant Colonel Zahid Iqbal (Retd) welcomed the management for their full cooperation in order to organize the event in a befitting manner. He exclusively thanked Sohail Shams Chief Executive Officer, United Marine Agencies (Pvt) Limited, the Title sponsor of the event who sponsored Rs. 10 million for the championship. He also thanked Cdre Ghazanfar Abbas (Retd), Chief Operating Officer of Karachi Golf Club for their benevolent support in organizing the Pakistan largest event.  Lt. Col Zahid Iqbal said:                                                                                               “Country’s top golfers will compete in the Professionals category for the coveted trophy. The Championship has the highest prize money of Rs. 10 Million. President, Pakistan Golf Federation, Lieutenant General Mian Mohammad Hilal Hussain, Hilal e Imtiaz (Military) (Retired) has also announced return Dubai ticket along with golf rounds as Hole-in-One prize for the first claim.” “Course way and Greens are all in best shapes. Golf fans this year will witness aggressive tee offs, birdies, boggies and thrilling putts as competing players are well prepared and eager to claim their lion’s share from the award money.” Col Zahid added. The Championship will be played over 72 holes of stroke play (18 holes each day) and 151 Professional Golfers along with top ranked Amateurs from all over the country participated in order to contest and claim the title of Pakistan Champion for the year 2021-22. The Championship will be played stroke play under three categories Professionals/ Amateurs (72 Holes), Senior Professionals (54 Holes) & Junior Professionals (54 Holes).

Bipin Dani Indian sociologists have come in support of Virat Kohli and Anushka Sharma, who have requested the fans not to circulate their daughter Vamika's photo on social media. Cameras were zoomed in on Anushka holding the baby in the arm when former captain Kohli reached 50 in the 3rd and final ODI against South Africa on Sunday. "Any post made public is bound to have repercussions, and if you are celebrities, like Virat and Anushka, it will be followed by a large number of people reacting to it. Requesting them to social media to respect their privacy and not click, share or upload the pics of their little daughter was fine and totally their personal matter", Prof. Abha Chauhan, President, Indian Sociological Society (ISS), says. Adding further, she says, "Beyond that it should be just a normal way of leading life, even cheering at the match, or being clicked at times, could be a usual way of growing up for a child of the two celebrities". "The couple didn’t need to justify or sound apologetic about not being aware of the camera on them during the one-day international match between India and South Africa. The comments and counter-comments, now and before, from their fans and others, many of them making fun and some demeaning, were not in a good spirit". "Socialization of a child is a contextual process, it depends on where and to whom you are born. There are thousands of children in our country who need care and attention, but are completely ignored by the media. Why make some children more special than others, by either protecting them too much or exposing them a lot? Either way, the children of the celebrities will be susceptible to focus and remain the center of attraction. Just let them be…and just let them enjoy the status which they have inherited, normally and naturally! "If they don't want to bring the photos and other personal details of their daughter on social media, as an ethically and morally responsible persons, we should refrain from posting their personal details. It will provide a better chance, free from the dazzling lives of celebrities, of growing up and socialization to the daughter of Virat and Anushka", However, it is to be noted here that ex-captain Dhoni and his wife Sakshi have also portrayed their daughter Ziva in public domain. Prof. Manish K. Verma, the secretary. of the Association says, "No matter other celebrities have 'chosen' to make their personal life public by showcasing the photographs and other details of their spouse and children on social media, it is strictly the decision of Virat and Anushka that what they want with regard to their daughter and how they want to groom her", the sociologist adds.

Sports Bulletin JOHANNESBURG:-The South African Blind cricket team will visit Pakistan to play a bilateral series of the three One Day Internationals (ODI) and three Twenty20 matches from February 26 to March 9, 2022. In an effort to ensure a truly memorable and successful tour for the team, the City of Johannesburg's Sport and Recreation Directorate and Blind Cricket South Africa (BCSA) organized a training camp for the preliminary squad. It is pertinent to mention that the Pakistan Blind Cricket Council (PBCC) has invited Blind Cricket South Africa (BCSA) to compete in an international bilateral blind cricket series from 26 February to 9 March 2022. The South African national team will compete in three One Day International (ODI) and three T20 matches against their Pakistani counterparts. This tour promises to be enthralling as it will challenge the team against the 2017 T20 World Cup and 2018 ODI World Cup finalists. “It has been an effective training camp for Blind Cricket South Africa. This camp has enabled us to not only prepare and practice, but also to promote and facilitate our players' dignity and independence," said Michael da Silva, the coach of BCSA national team. “A 20-member South African team with players who all come from different provinces, including officials, will tour Pakistan," he said, adding that Blind Cricket South Africa will reveal the national team players for the series in the first week of February and that they have identified a pool of 25 to 30 players from whom the final line-up will be picked. The team stayed at Haron Bridge Retreat from Friday, January 21, to Sunday, January 23, 2022, for the training camp. BCSA identified the need for a national camp to prepare the country's best visually impaired cricketers for what would be a difficult yet exciting voyage to Pakistan. We've been working really hard. It hasn't been easy, but the team is doing very well," said Johan Schroeder, South Africa's 2013 Blind Cricketer of the Year and South African Blind Cricket national team member. “Being at the training camp has helped me understand that there is genuine concern and appreciation for each other among the players. To us, cricket is not only a game where champions are built. On and off the pitch friendships are also being forged, even on the opposing team," he said. The unabashed enthusiasm for the game is what stands out about blind cricket. As players practiced at the Haron Bridge Retreat Cricket fields, they eagerly anticipated sweep shots, committed their bodies on the line, and celebrated wickets with zeal. “We are really thankful to the City of Johannesburg and other sponsors for their help and support as players prepare for Pakistan; these gestures mean a great deal to us and the players," said Isaac Bidla, the president of Central Gauteng Lions Blind Cricket. “Playing blind cricket teaches players a lot; not only do they enjoy themselves, but they also develop mobility, the capacity to respond to sound, and fair play." All Covid-19 regulations were followed on arrival, and all team members were required to take a Covid-19 test to ensure safety throughout the course of the training camp. (Thanks to Ntombifuthi Junerose Nkosi).

Sports Bulletin Lausanne, Switzerland: As the 2022 Asia Women’s Cup reaches the half-way stage in Muscat, Oman, four teams have secured their places at the FIH Hockey Women’s World Cup Spain and Netherlands 2022. By finishing in the top two positions in their respective pools, Japan (FIH World Ranking: 13), India (WR:9), China (WR:12) and Korea (WR:10) will now meet in the semi-finals of the competition and have also secured the four automatic qualification spots available from this continental qualifier. It is currently Japan and Korea who are flying high. Both teams are undefeated so far, with Japan putting in the most striking performance when they defeated reigning champions India 2-0 in a pool A match. Korea’s 4-0 demolition of China was also an impressive performance, which left Korea top of Pool B. In the final day of pool action, China defeated Indonesia (WR:7-0; Korea beat Thailand (WR:29) 6-0; Japan were 8-0 victors against Malaysia (WR:20); and India put nine goals past Singapore (WR:41), to win 9-1. At this stage of the competition, Korea’s Cheon Eunbi is topping the goal scorers’ table with five goals; Japan’s Shihori Oikawa is currently one goal behind. The semi-finals will take place on Wednesday 26 January, with Korea facing India and Japan taking on China. Earlier on the same day in the fifth to eighth place matches, Malaysia will face Indonesia and Thailand will play Singapore. India’s captain Savita was in an ebullient mood after her team’s victory over Singapore: ’Our first match wasn’t very good and I think the second match, against Japan, we played better. ‘Qualifying in tournaments for events is always good. We did that for the 2016 Olympic Games and the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games This is my fourth Asia Cup and my first as captain. It is always a great honour for me and my team to play for our country, whether it is the Asia Cup, the Commonwealth Games or the World Cup. ‘I was more happy for our coach., We really worked hard and our coach Janneke [Schopman] really inspires us.’ Asia Women’s Cup 2022 match schedule for Wednesday 26 January: 5-8th place 11:30: Thailand v Singapore 14:00: Malaysia v Indonesia Semi-finals 16:30 Korea v India 19:00 Japan v China