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Begum Kulsum National Ranking Tennis Championships conclude
Muzammil Murtaza stuns Mohammad Shoaib 2-0 in Men’s Singles final to lift titleSports Bulletin ReportISLAMABAD: The 10th Begum Kulsum Saifullah Khan National Ranking Tennis Championships 2024 concluded at the PTF-SDA Tennis Complex, Islamabad, as Muzammil Murtaza outplayed Mohammad Shoaib in straight sets 2-0 in the men’s singles final. The score-line was just 6-3, and 6-2.The closing ceremony was graced by HE Ladislav Steinhubel, Ambassador of the Czech Republic to Pakistan, as the chief guest, and the Senator Salim Saifullah Khan, Patron PTF, as the guest of honour. The ceremony was also attended by prominent figures including Anwar Saifullah Khan, Javed Saifullah Khan, Usman Saifullah Khan, Asad Saifullah Khan, and Qamar Zaman ex-Chairman NAB, Hassan Baig, Tufail Cheema -Secretary-ITA, Col. Zia-ud-din Tufail (Secretary General, PTF), Col. Gul Rehman (Director, PTF Complex), as well as a large gathering of tennis players, coaches, parents, media representatives, and tennis lovers.In the closing Ceremony, A cash award of Rs. 25,000/- was presented to young tennis prodigy Hassan Usmani for his remarkable achievements in U-14 tournaments held in Saudi Arabia and Aaghabat, showcasing his promising talent on international platforms. Additionally, a shield was awarded to Mahboob Khan, the longest-serving coach of Pakistan and a USPTR-certified coach, for his invaluable contributions to the development of tennis in the country. Results (Finals):Men’s Singles: Muzammil Murtaza beat Mohammad Shoaib 6-3, 6-2Ladies Singles: Amna Ali Qayum beat Soha Ali 6-3, 6-4Boys’ U14: Hassan Usmani beat Ruhab Faisal 6-2, 6-0Boys’ U12: Shayan Afridi beat Rashid Ali 6-1, 6-0.
Begum Kulsum National Tennis: Mohammad Sohaib, Yousaf, Muzammil, Aqeel reach in semifinals
Sports Bulletin ReportISLAMABAD: Yousaf Khalil, Muzammil Murtaza, Aqeel Khan, and Mohammad Shoaib qualified for Men’s Singles semifinals of the 10th Begum Kulsum Saifullah Khan National Ranking Tennis Championships 2024 after beating their respective opponents here at PTF-SDA Tennis Complex on Friday.ResultsMen's Singles (Quarterfinals): Yousaf Khalil beat Mohammad Abid 4-6, 7-5, 6-2Muzammil Murtaza beat Barkatullah 7-5, 6-2Aqeel Khan beat Shahzad Khan 6-3, 6-4Mohammad Shoaib beat Abdullah Adnan 6-4, 6-3Ladies’ Singles (Quarterfinals):Noor Malik beat Lalarukh Sajid 6-0, 6-0Amna Ali Qayum beat Labika Durab 6-0, 6-1Soha Ali beat Mahrukh Sajid 6-0, 6-3Meheq Khokhar beat Zunaisaha Noor 4-6, 6-1, 6-3Men's Doubles (Semifinals):Barkatullah / Yousaf Khalil beat Abdullah Adnan / Herra Ashiq 7-5, 7-6 (5)Mohammad Shoaib / Muzammil Murtaza beat Abubakar Talha / Mohammad Abid 7-6, (5), 6-2Boys’ U18 (Semifinals):Bilal Asim beat Mohammad Yahya 6-3, 6-1Abubakar Talha beat Hamza Roman 7-5, 6-4Boys’ U14 (Quarterfinals):Ruhab Faisal beat Waqas Janas 4-1, 5-3Hassan Usmani beat Zohaib Amjad 4-0, 4-0Mohammad Shayan Afridi beat Razik Sultan 4-2, 4-1Mohammad Junaid beat Ismail Aftab 1-4, 5-4 (3)
Sialkot pacers shine on opening day of the Quaid Trophy final
Karachi (Sports Bulletin Report): Amad Butt led Sialkot from the front as he snapped four wickets to bundle out Peshawar for 258 in 80.1 overs on the first day of the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy 2024-25 final at the UBL Sports Complex, Karachi. In turn, Sialkot only faced two overs jotting eight runs before stumps were drawn. Sialkot opted to bowl first and vindicated their decision by reducing Peshawar to 145-5 and then 258 all out, with none of their batters reaching half-century. Amad, who bagged 4-51 in 19.1 overs, was helped by young pacers Ali Raza (3-62) and Shoaib Akhtar Jnr (2-60) as the trio accounted for nine wickets in 60.1 overs giving away 173 runs.Earlier, opening batter Maaz Sadaqat struck four fours in his 61-ball 32-run stay at the crease while his partner Sahibzada Farhan returned for a mere six off 13 balls. No.4 batter, Nabi Gul faced 72 balls for his 44 runs with the help of seven fours before falling in the 34th over with 106 runs on the board. For Peshawar, No.6 batter Zubair Khan top-scored with 47 off 126 balls including six fours after having walked in at 106-4 in 33.2 overs. He stitched a 39-run fifth-wicket stand with Mehran Ibrahim (31, 65b, 3x4s) and a 48-run sixth-wicket stand with Abuzar Tariq (15, 59b, 2x4s).Skipper Sajid Khan (23, 26b, 4x4s), batting at No. 8 and Niaz Khan (31, 31b, 5x4s), in at No. 9, chipped in with valuable contributions lower down the order to push their team past the 250-run mark. Sialkot will begin the day two, trailing by 250 runs with ten wickets in hand. Scores in brief Final - Day 1 of 5 – Peshawar Region vs Sialkot Region at the UBL Sports Complex, Karachi Peshawar 258 all out, 80.1 overs (Zubair Khan 47, Nabi Gul 44, Maaz Sadaqat 32, Mehran Ibrahim 31, Niaz Khan 31, Sajid Khan 23; Amad Butt 4-51, Ali Raza 3-62, Shoaib Akhtar Jnr 2-60) Sialkot 8-0, 2 overs
From the Pitch to the Community: Cricket's Silent salute to a Senior Sergeant
BIPIN DANIThe minute of silence before the New Zealand vs Sri Lanka 3rd T-20I match in Nelson to honor Senior Sergeant Lyn Fleming was a poignant moment in the world of cricket. It's not common for sporting events to pause in memory of a police officer, which underscores the depth of respect and solidarity extended by the cricket community.Senior Sergeant Fleming's tragic death on New Year's Day left a significant impact on the Nelson community and the nation. In recognizing her service and sacrifice, the cricket fraternity demonstrated its support for those who dedicate their lives to public safety.This tribute before the New Zealand vs Sri Lanka match on Thursday will be remembered as a moment when the cricketing world paused to honor a dedicated officer, reflecting the values of respect and solidarity that transcend the boundaries of the sport.This rare tribute highlighted the strong connection between the cricketing world and wider societal events. By observing a minute of silence, the teams and spectators acknowledged the important role played by law enforcement officers and honored Fleming's contributions.Such gestures in cricket, though infrequent, serve to remind us of the sport's power to unite people and pay homage to those who serve the community. It shows that cricket is more than just a game; it's a platform where humanity and sportsmanship come together.
FOOTBALL - Int News 02 Jan, 2025
Sports Bulletin ReportRiyadh (Saudi Arabia): Sergio Conceicao wants to make an excellent first impression on fans in Riyadh for his opening match as AC Milan manager in the EA Sports FC Italian Supercup semi-final versus Juventus.The Portuguese, who replaced compatriot Paulo Fonseca in charge at the beginning of the week, is in the unique situation of spending his debut competing against son Francisco Conceicao, who plays as a winger for Juventus.However, speaking at the pre-match press conference for the semi-final at Al Awwal Park in Riyadh on Friday at 10pm, Conceicao says family feelings will stop for 90 minutes with full focus on reaching Monday’s final.Conceicao said: “We have a huge responsibility which is defending the colours of one of the most historical clubs in football. We have a strong fan base, not only here but also elsewhere globally and we will do our best to make our supporters happy and proud. We have to play aggressively against Juventus. Our goal is to penetrate Juventus’ defence as a complete team, not by relying on individual players. Having my son on the opposing team won’t affect me. My goal is clear: to win like I do in any other match. There is no place for feelings on the field. There are many Portuguese players and coaches here in Saudi. It’s a league that is growing a lot and quickly. We can literally feel the passion for football and the will to grow. Many important players are contributing to this evolution.”Motta said: “Thank you very much for the hospitality. We are in a very pleasant environment to do our job and give our best. We must be able to not let the change in AC Milan leadership influence us. We are ready for everything; we must be the main character. Juventus midfielder Manuel Locatelli added: “It has been great hospitality; we have been hosted in a very pleasant way. Juventus is supported around the world, and this motivates us to win. The Saudi league is developing, it has improved a lot. They invested very well, and it will grow even more internationally.”Maignan said: “It’s a very important game for us as players, management, and as a fan base. Me and my team-mates made a pact that moving forward we will do our best. We have high ambitions, will keep doing our best and need to be cautious and follow the coach’s instructions.”
Begum Kulsum National Tennis: Mohammad Shoaib overcomes Ahmad Nael 2-1
Sports Bulletin ReportISLAMABAD: It was a nerve-jangling contest of the day, when top national tennis player, Mohammad Shoaib struggled hard to overcome his challengers Ahmad Nael Qureshi 2-1 in the Men’s Singles of the 10th Begum Kulsum Saifullah Khan National Ranking Tennis Championships 2024 at the PTF-SDA Tennis Complex, Islamabad on Wednesday. The final score-line was 6-7 (7), 6-3, and 6-2.Both players exhibited top class tennis during the three sets competitions, however, resistance from Nael did not allow Mohammad Shoaib to take a single sigh of breath during the whole match. First set was remarkable, as the upcoming star Ahmed Nael won that on tie-break 7-6.Results:Men's Singles:Muzammil Murtaza beat Sami Zeb Khan 6-3, 6-4Barkatullah beat Gibran ul Haq 6-1, 6-0Mohammad Shoaib beat Ahmad Nael Qureshi 6-7 (7), 6-3, 6-2Aqeel Khan beat Huzamia Abdul Rehman 6-3, 6-4Ladies Singles:Laiba Iqbal beat Fatima Ali Raja 6-2, 6-1Noor Malik beat Shandana Rabi 6-0, 6-0Zaira Ahmed beat Saleha Batool 6-0, 4-6, 6-1Aman Khan beat Maria Khan 6-2, 6-3Boys’ U18 Singles: Ahtesham Humayun beat Ruhab Faisal 6-3, 6-3Bilal Asim beat Azan Shahid 6-0, 6-1Mohammad Yahya beat Nabeel Ali Qayum 7-6 (5), 6-1Asad Zaman beat Haziq Asim 5-7, 6-2, 6-1Hamza Asim beat Shehryar Anees 6-3, 6-2Abubakar Talha beat Huzaifa Khan 6-2, 6-3Mohammad Salar beat Amir MAzari 3-6, 6-3, 6-2Hamza Roman beat Omer Jawad 6-3, 6-2Boys’ U 14 Singles: Mohammad Aayan beat Majid Ali Bachani 4-1, 4-2Ismail Aftab beat Behroze Maimoon 4-1, 4-0Razik Sultan beat Aaliyan Ali 4-0, 4-0Ruhab Faisal beat Rashid Ali Bachani 4-2, 4-0Zohaib Amjad beat Mozzam Babar 4-0, 4-2.
TENNIS - Local News 31 Dec, 2024
Sports Bulletin ReportIslamabad:The Gun and Country Club Open Tennis Championships came to a thrilling conclusion, with Rohan Noori emerging as the champion in both the Men's Singles and Boys' Singles events.In the Men's Singles final, Rohan Noori defeated Adil Farooq from Islamabad Police in an exciting match, securing the title with a score of 8-5.Noori's double triumph was sealed when he won the Boys' Singles final, beating Mahd Mehmood with a score of 8-4.In the Ladies' Singles event, Shiza Sajjid took the title by defeating her younger sister, Lala Rukh, in a thrilling final with a score of 8-6.The three-day tournament featured over sixty players competing in various events. The finals were attended by distinguished guests, including Mr. Nadeem Irshad Kiyani, Secretary IPC, who distributed prizes and certificates among the winners and runners-up.Other notable attendees included Tariq Mehmood Murtaza, Chairman ITA; Col Tufail Iqbal Din Zia, Secretary PTF; Tufail Cheema, Secretary ITA; and Imran Afraz Khan, Secretary Gun Club. Hamid ul Haq, Davis Captain, Arif Qureshi, Senior Vice President ITA, congratulated the organizers, particularly Nauman Afzal, Tournament Director, on the success of the event.
Begum Kulsum National Ranking Championships start in Islamabad
Abdul Jabbar FaisalIslamabad: The main round of the 10th Begum Kulsum Saifullah Khan National Ranking Tennis Championships 2024 started here at PTF-SDA Tennis Complex on Tuesday, as the tournament is being played under the banner of Pakistan Tennis Federation (PTF).It is pertinent to mention here that the prestigious national tennis tournament is organized annually to honour the memory of the late Begum Kulsum Saifullah Khan, mother of PTF Patron Senator Salim Saifullah Khan.A large number of players, including Pakistan's top-ranked athletes such as Aqeel Khan, Mohammad Shoaib, Muzammil Murtaza, Mohammad Abid, Barkatullah, Shahzad Khan, Yousaf Khalil, Heera Ashiq, Meheq Khokhar, Amna Ali Qayum are competing in their respective categories.Results (Men's Singles 1st Round): Mohammad Hamza Aasim beat Mohammad Huzaifa Khan 6-0, 6-4; Uzair Khan beat Mohammad Talha Khan 6-4, 5-7, 6-2; Abdullah Adnan beat Bilal Asim 6-2, 6-3; Mohammad Salar beat Mohammad Haziq Asim 6-3, 6-4; Mohammad Abid beat Asad Zaman 6-0, 6-0; Shahzad Khan beat Shehryar Anees 6-2, 6-0; Heera Ashiq beat Mohammad Yahya 6-0, 6-1; Omer Jawad beat Abdul Basit 4-6, 6-4, 6-3; Hamza Roman beat Murtaza Hussain 6-2, 6-3; Yousaf Khalil beat Abubakar Talha 6-4, 6-2; Saqib Hayat beat Rayan Ahmad Khan 6-1, 6-0; Ahtesham Humayun beat Amir Mazari 6-4, 7-5.Boys U18 Singles (1st Round): Azan Shahid beat Mohammad Dawood 6-2, 6-2; Ruhab Faisal beat Ismail Aftab 6-3, 6-3; Nabeel Ali Qayum w/o Junaid Khan; Mohammad Salar beat Razik Sultan 6-2, 6-4; Bilal Asim beat Hazrat Ali 6-0, 6-0; Asad Zaman beat Ali Zain 6-2, 6-4; Hamza Roman beat Talha Khan 6-2, 6-3; Haziq Asim beat Hamza Hussain 6-3, 6-1;
TENNIS - Local News 31 Dec, 2024
Islamabad (PR): The semifinals of the Gul& Country Club Open Tennis Championships were held at the Gun Club courts in Islamabad, paving the way for a thrilling final on December 31, 2024.In the men's singles event, Roman Noori and Adil Farooq secured their spots in the final. Noori defeated Khan Jabbran with a convincing 8-4 win, while Farooq dominated Imtiaz Ahmad 8-1.In the ladies' singles, Shiza Sajjid and Lala Rukh emerged victorious, advancing to the final. Sajjid displayed exceptional skill, defeating Nawal Imtiaz 6-0. Lala Rukh edged past her younger sister, Mah Rukh, with a 6-4 win.The Boys U-18 event also saw intense competition, with Mahd Mehmood and Rohan Noori progressing to the final. Noori defeated Ayan Akhtar 8-3, while Mehmood beat Haider Ali 8-3.
FOOTBALL - Int News 31 Dec, 2024
Riyadh (Saudi Arabia): Te Saudi Pro League (SPL) has announced its preparations for the upcoming 2024/25 winter transfer window, which will run from January 1 to January 30, 2025. These preparations highlight the league’s commitment to supporting clubs by facilitating player transfers, improving governance and planning, ensuring player welfare, and enhancing financial sustainability.The SPL held a series of intensive workshops with its member clubs to assess their specific needs and objectives for the winter transfer window. These workshops aim to provide tailored support to clubs, enabling them to continue achieving success on and off the pitch. This includes facilitating transfers between clubs within the league.During the 2024 summer transfer window, clubs utilised 16 of the 36 available slots for foreign players under the age of 21. Thirteen clubs signed at least one U21 foreign player, while five clubs did not make any signings in this category. The remaining slots provide opportunities for further reinforcements during the winter window.Additionally, all 18 clubs reached the maximum allowance of eight foreign players over the age of 21 per squad by the end of the summer transfer window. Consequently, new signings in this category during the winter window will require clubs to terminate contracts, sell players, or deregister squad members. The SPL will work closely with clubs and the Financial Sustainability Committee to ensure compliance with league policies and regulations.Key outcomes from the 2024/25 summer transfer window include:Average player age decrease: The average player age in the league dropped from 27.6 years to 26.2 years, reflecting a focus on younger talent acquisition.Player movements: A total of 115 domestic players were registered, while 132 departed due to end of contracts, sales, or contract terminations. Meanwhile, 101 foreign players joined the league, and 32 foreign players departed due to end of contracts, sales, or contract terminations.The SPL reiterated that it remains dedicated to fostering transparency and collaboration with clubs while continuing to enhance the league’s competitiveness and organizational excellence.As part of its transformation strategy, the SPL aims to position the Saudi Pro League among the world’s leading football leagues. This strategy focuses on five main pillars:• Developing & attracting elite talent• Build genuine connections with fans and communities• Elevate all clubs• Expand reach and revenue• Drive economic and societal impact
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