PVF disburses cash awards among Junior, and Senior players for winning gold, and silver medalsAbdul Jabbar FaisalISLAMABAD: Chairman, Pakistan Volleyball Federation (PVF), Chaudhry Mohammad Yaqoob revealed on Friday that Islamabad would host the first Volleyball League in September/October this year 2024, as PVF needs government support to make the event historical.While addressing a prize distribution ceremony at a local hotel, Mohammad Yaqoob said: “The international volleyball leagues’ season starts at the end of October all over the world, and we want to stage our league before commencing international league events. PVF does not want to create any hurdle for Pakistani spikers, who are part of the international leagues, as we can not pay big sums to national athletes, as compared to leagues’ earning “he added.“National volleyball team is making Pakistan famous in the world. The federation has prepared a plan for coaches including junior and senior players for the whole year, but we have a limited budget, and we need financial support for national team participation in international events for better results. I hope that the federal government will play its role in this regard. The players were awarded with cash prizes for winning the gold, and silver medals.” Federal Secretary Nadeem Irshad Kayani said: “The ministry is taking concrete steps for the development of sports in the country, we will soon organize a conference on sports economy so that sponsors can move ahead to support sports. Our target is the Olympics 2028 and we want to prepare a targeted plan for talented athletes and focus on them if the budget is allotted. Our efforts are to convert the mini stadiums into academies and promote the sports culture. The ministry will play a positive role for the successful organization of the volleyball league in the country to provide all possible support. In the end, the chief guest Secretary for the Ministry of Inter-provincial Coordination (IPC)Nadeem Irshad Kayani disbursed the cash awards among Junior, and Senior players for winning gold, and silver medals respectively in the Central Asian Volleyball (CAV) Under-18 Volleyball Championship, and Asian Volleyball Confederation (AVC) Challenge Cup 2024. Also, Chairman PVF Ch Mohammad Yaqoob, Deputy Director, Pakistan Sports Board (PSB) Moahhamd Shahid Islam, Director PSB Mohammad saeed Akhtar and other officials of PVF, and PSB were present.Pakistan Junior Team (Gold medal in CAV Under-18 Championship): Mohammad Yahya, Tayyab Khan, Mohammad Junaid, Mohammad Anas, Jabran Khan, Mohammad Hasan, Muhtad Ali Shah, Mohammad Arfan, Jameel Junaid, Abubakar, Talal Ahmed, Khizar HayatPakistan Senior Team (Silver Medal in AVC Challenge Cup): Usman Faryad Ali, Afaq Khan, Muard Jehan (Captain), Faqir-ud-Din, Nasir Ali, Mohammad Yaseen, Mohammad Kashif Naveed, Waleed Khan, Abdul Zaheer, Ali Haider, Mohammad Hammad, Musawar Khan, Murad Khan, Aimal Khan.

Sports Bulletin ReportLAHORE: The Pakistan Football Federation (PFF) has announced the schedule of the National Women’s Football Club Championship 2024, as this premier women’s football event will feature initial rounds in four cities: Lahore, Islamabad, Karachi, and Quetta from July 21 to July 26, 2024. According to an official of PFF, three teams including TWK FC, Real Lahore WFC, and Young Rising Stars FC will compete in Lahore. Four teams, Balochistan WFC, Quetta Women FC, Hazara Quetta Women FC, and Hazara United FC, will play against eachother in Quetta.In Islamabad, six teams will vie for the final round. Legacy WFC, Gilgit WFC, and Smurfs WFC will be in Group A while Group B will consist of Highlanders WFC, Strikers WFC, and Nawansher United FC.The championship's final round will take place in Islamabad from August 1 to August 10, 2024. The top teams from 8 groups will compete for the coveted title. The semi-final is scheduled for August 8 and the final will be held on August 10 at Jinnah Stadium, Islamabad.Karachi will host 13 teams, divided into four groups.Group A: Karachi United FC, MUK WFC, Young Muslim FCGroup B: Karachi City WFC, Mohsen Gillani WFC, Jahangir MemorialGroup C: Dya WFC, Overseas WFC, Baloch Muhammadan WFCGroup D: Jafa WFC, Karachi Women FC, Shaheed Benazir Bhutto WFC, Hazara Girls FC

Sports Bulletin ReportLAHORE: The month-long Ali Embroidery High Performance Tennis Training Camp has successfully concluded at the Punjab Tennis Academy, Bagh-e-Jinnah, Lahore. The closing ceremony was graced by former hockey legend and Olympian Shahbaz Senior as the chief guest, alongside notable guests Hafiz Umair Nadeem Butt, Chief Financial Officer of Ali Embroidery Mills, Mohammad Ramzan Sajid, Manager Finance & Accounts, former Davis Cupper Rashid Malik (Tamgha-e-Imtiaz), former international hockey players Ch Khalid Rasool, Naseem Ahmad, former PTF Secretary Col (R) Asif Dar, Waqar Nisar, as well as tennis players and their families. The camp featured top tennis players from various age groups, who were trained and polished under the expert guidance of Rashid Malik, serving as camp commandant. His team included former national tennis player Asif Feroze, former Junior Davis Cup player and Pakistan junior No. 1 Ahmad Babar, and national player Imran Bhatti. During the ceremony, Shahbaz Senior shared his admiration for Rashid Malik, saying, "Rashid Malik is a great asset for Pakistan tennis, having dedicated the last 30 years to the sport. His passion and dedication have kept tennis alive in the province. We need such active coaches and organizers in hockey as well, as it can surely help revive the national game in our country." Addressing a query about the revival of hockey, Shahbaz said: "The revival of hockey is a long-term process requiring full financial support from the government and corporate sector, and at least five years to set Pakistan hockey on the right track. PHF Secretary Rana Mujahid is making sincere efforts in this regard, and we fully support him in reviving hockey in Pakistan." Rashid Malik expressed his gratitude to Tariq Zaman, CEO of Ali Embroidery Mills, for sponsoring the camp. "I am grateful to Tariq Zaman for sponsoring this High Performance Tennis Training Camp for the third consecutive year. This camp will benefit the top players of Punjab in the long run and they, in return, will earn national and international accolades for their province and country." 

Sports Bulletin ReportHouston (USA): Finally the D-day has come, as the Texas city Houston will be honoured to host the WSF World Junior Squash Championships, which will commence on Friday (July 12, 2024 here at Houston Squash Club in Texas, United States of America (USA).The world’s best junior talents get their bids to be crowned world champion in different age categories. Mohammad Hamza Khan will defend his Under-19 title. As many as 150 matches taking place on day one in the Lone Star State. Action starts with the first rounds in the morning, with the second rounds taking place in the afternoon.The first players to step foot on the brand new all-glass show court will be Canada’s Samuel Boulanger and Malta's Lijana Sultana and France's Ines Guyot at 10:20. The seeded players enter the draw in the afternoon, with men’s top seed Mohamad Zakaria playing on the all-glass court at 16:20, women’s top seed and defending champion Amina Orfi playing on the same court at 17:00 and defending men’s champion and No.2 seed Hamza Khan playing on the three-glass-walled court at 19:00.

Capsey hits unbeaten 67 as England Women seal IT20 series against New ZealandSports Bulletin ReportCenterbury (England): Alice Capsey hit an unbeaten 67 as England Women clinched a close win over New Zealand in the third Vitality IT20 to seal the series at The Spitfire Ground, Canterbury.Nat Sciver-Brunt captained the side, winning the toss and choosing to bowl. The White Ferns made a strong start, before Sophie Ecclestone removed Suzie Bates and Amelia Kerr in her first over. Sophie Ecclestone took 4-25 while Lauren Filer (2-17) and Sarah Glenn (1-14) also impressed.Skipper Sophie Devine top-scored with an unbeaten 58 in the tourist’s 141-8. Capsey and Sophia Dunkley hit a combined 66 before Fran Jonas removed Dunkley (35) and Sciver-Brunt (0) in successive balls to leave England 66-3. Capsey, along with Freya Kemp’s 16 off eight balls sealed a six-wicket victory.Women’s One-Day Series:26 June: 1st Women’s One-Day International – Seat Unique Riverside, Chester-le-Street – England won by nine wickets30 June: 2nd Women’s One-Day International – New Road, Worcester – England won by eight wickets3 July: 3rd Women’s One-Day International – Seat Unique Stadium, Bristol – England won by five wicketsWomen’s IT20 Series:6 July: 1st Women’s IT20 – The Utilita Bowl, Southampton – England won by 59 runs9 July: 2nd Women’s IT20 – The 1st Central County Ground, Hove – England won by 23 runs (DLS method)11 July: 3rd Women’s IT20 – The Spitfire Ground, St Lawrence – England won by six wickets13 July: 4th Women’s IT20 – The Kia Oval, London17 July: 5th Women’s IT20 – Lord’s, London.

Sports Bulletin ReportLAHORE: Punjab University men's and women's teams won the first position in the All Pakistan Higher Education Commission (HEC) Rowing Championship 2023-24. As many as 12 men's and 10 women's teams from the country participated in the championship held at the University of Lahore and the University of Central Punjab, in which PU teams stood first. Punjab University men's team won 5 gold and 3 silver medals while the women's team won 6 gold and 2 silver medals as well. PU Director Sports Zubair Butt congratulated the players on this wonderful achievement.  

Sports Bulletin ReportKARCAHI: The second edition of the Shahid Afridi Foundation (SAF) National Physical Disability T-20 Cricket Championship will start on July 15, 2024 at Quetta, said an official here on Wednesday in a press release.Larkana team will make first appearance in the National Physical Disability Cricket Championship. Match will be held at Buitems Cricket Ground at 1.30 pm while other matches of the championship will be played in Sialkot and Islamabad after Ashura. The final of the event will be played in Karachi. It is important to mention that in the first stage, the team of Multan was the champion, and the team of Bahawalpur was the runner-up.  

Sports Bulletin ReportNorthampton (England): South Africa Champions overcame Pakistan Champions by 9 wickets in their second match of the World Champions League 2024 after chasing chased down a challenging target of 211 set by Pakistan Champions in Northapton, England. Sarel Erwee led the charge with an unbeaten 105 off 57 balls, maintaining a strike rate of 184.21. His innings included 11 fours and six sixes. Jacques Snyman provided excellent support, scoring an unbeaten 82 off 47 balls, with six fours and five sixes. Together, they put on an unbroken 183-run stand for the second wicket, dismantling the Pakistan bowling attack. The only wicket to fall was that of JP Duminy, who scored 9 off 8 balls before being dismissed by Sohail Khan.Earlier, Pakistan Champions posted a competitive 210/4 in their 20 overs. Shoaib Malik's unbeaten 51 off 26 balls and Sharjeel Khan's explosive 72 off 36 balls laid a solid foundation. Contributions from Sohail Maqsood (24 off 24), Shahid Afridi (20 off 10), and Abdul Razzaq (25* off 15) bolstered the total. Imran Tahir and Dale Steyn were the standout bowlers for South Africa, taking 1/19 and 1/24, respectively. This comprehensive victory by South Africa Champions highlighted their dominant form, and Sarel Erwee's century was a testament to his exceptional talent.Brief Scores (South Africa Champions vs Pakistan Champions):Pakistan Champions: 210/4 in 20 overs (Sharjeel Khan 72, Shoaib Malik 51*; Imran Tahir 1/19, Dale Steyn 1/24)South Africa Champions: 211/1 in 18.3 overs (Sarel Erwee 105*, Jacques Snyman 82*; Sohail Khan 1/38)Result: South Africa Champions won by 9 wicketsPlayer of the Match: Sarel Erwe 

Sports Bulletin Report Northampton (England): The West Indies Champions trounced hosts England Champions by 5 wickets in a World Championship of Legends (WCL) 2024 fixture at County Ground, Northampton on Tuesday.In the first match of the day, the West Indies Champions chased down a formidable target of 210 set by England Champions. Despite losing Chris Gayle early in the first over, Dwayne Smith and Chadwick Walton ensured a strong start, posting 65 runs for the loss of one wicket by the end of the powerplay. Walton particularly targeted Chris Schofield, scoring 20 runs off him in the sixth over. Although Smith was dismissed LBW by Samit Patel for 11, Kirk Edwards kept the momentum going.Walton continued his assault on Schofield, smashing 23 runs in the eighth over with three sixes and a four. He was finally dismissed by Ravi Bopara in the 12th over, scoring a blistering 85 off 42 balls. Following Walton's departure, Edwards fell for 14, leaving West Indies at 125/4. However, Ashley Nurse and Jason Mohammed forged a crucial partnership, adding 67 runs for the fifth wicket. Nurse and Darren Sammy completed the chase, leading West Indies Champions to a 5-wicket victory in 19.3 overs. Walton was named the player of the match for his explosive innings.England Champions, after being put in to bat first, faced an early setback with Phil Mustard falling for a duck to Samuel Badree. Kevin Pietersen and Ian Bell stabilized the innings, guiding the team to 48/1 in 6 overs. Pietersen's quickfire 42 off 19 balls was instrumental, but he was dismissed in the eighth over with the score at 80/3. Bell and Ravi Bopara then put up a substantial 118-run partnership for the fourth wicket. Bell's 97 off 64 balls, along with Bopara's 53 off 30, propelled England to a total of 209/5 in 20 overs.Brief Scores (West Indies Champions vs England Champions):England Champions: 209/5 in 20 overs (Ian Bell 97, Ravi Bopara 53; Samuel Badree 1/24, Jerome Taylor 1/33)West Indies Champions: 210/5 in 19.2 overs (Chadwick Walton 85, Jason Mohammed 32*; Samit Patel 1/20, Ravi Bopara 1/39)Result: West Indies Champions won by 5 wicketsPlayer of the Match: Chadwick Walton

Sports Bulletin ReportLausanne (Switzerland): In the annals of Olympic history, few stories are as inspiring as that of the Zimbabwe women’s hockey team, affectionately known as the "Golden Girls." Their triumph at the 1980 Moscow Olympic Games is a testament to the power of determination, unity, and passion for the sport. In an exclusive interview with Ann Grant, the captain of the team, we delve into the incredible journey of these pioneering women.The Road to Moscow: In late June 1980, an air of excitement enveloped the newly formed nation of Zimbabwe. The women’s hockey team had been invited to participate in the XXII Olympic Games, marking the first time women’s hockey was included as an Olympic discipline. For Zimbabwe, which had just gained independence in April of that year, this was more than just a sporting competition; it was a chance to put their fledgling nation on the world map.Ann Grant recalls the moment they received the invitation: “Our team was extremely excited to be invited to the XXII Olympic Games, especially as it was the first time women’s hockey was an Olympic discipline and our new nation of Zimbabwe was only formally confirmed in April 1980.”Initially, the team’s destination was South Africa for an annual interprovincial tournament. However, in a surprising turn of events, they were instead invited to the Moscow Olympics. With just a month to prepare, the team had to hastily organize passports, uniforms, and a multitude of administrative details, all while securing a month’s leave from their employers. The Zimbabwe National Olympic Committee worked tirelessly to ensure everything was in order, while the players juggled their full-time jobs with increased hockey practices and matches against men's teams to prepare for the games.Arrival in Moscow: Arriving in Moscow ten days before the start of the Olympics, the team faced the challenge of adapting to artificial turf, something none of the players had ever experienced. Daily practices at local stadiums were invaluable in getting accustomed to this new surface. Despite the logistical hurdles and the unfamiliar environment, the team’s spirit remained unbroken.Ann vividly remembers their initial days in Moscow: “We were taken to the super new Olympic Village with amenities open 24 hours and then rushed off to get new hockey shoes as not one of us had ever played on artificial turf, including our coach!”The Olympic Experience: Walking into Lenin Stadium for the opening ceremony was a moment of awe and pride for the Zimbabwe team. Dressed in their bright blue uniforms, they marched with their new national flag flying high. The atmosphere in the Olympic Village was electric, and the team had the chance to meet other Olympic champions like Daley Thompson and Sir Sebastian Coe.Ann describes the opening ceremony: “The aura from the beautiful stadium, the magnitude of the many spectators, and the sheer joy of being a part of this momentous occasion was a mind-blowing experience.”The Zimbabwe women’s hockey team was an enthusiastic and determined group, resolute in their mission to give their best on the field. Under the expert guidance of coach Anthea Stewart, they adapted their tactics to face unknown opponents and displayed remarkable tenacity and skill.The Golden Moment: The women’s hockey tournament was conducted on a round-robin basis, featuring teams from Russia, Czechoslovakia, Poland, India, Austria, and Zimbabwe. Zimbabwe remained unbeaten heading into their final match against Austria. The victory secured them the gold medal, making history as the first winners in Olympic women’s hockey and earning Zimbabwe its first-ever Olympic gold.Ann recalls the moment of victory: “It is difficult to express our feelings of sheer joy and excitement of our achievement! We stood on that red carpet to receive our gold medals from Mr. Reg Alexander, IOC member from Kenya, and Mr. Renee Frank, the President of the International Hockey Federation. The unforgettable moment our flag was raised with the beautiful Olympic hymn playing in the background.”Celebrations and Legacy: The reception back home in Zimbabwe was nothing short of spectacular. The team was welcomed with a guard of honor by school drum majorettes and a huge crowd of fans and their families. Several functions were organized to celebrate their achievement, ensuring that all Zimbabweans could share in this historic moment.The legacy of the Golden Girls continues to inspire future generations of hockey players in Zimbabwe. The annual Golden Girls Hockey Tournament, held every July, keeps the spirit of their victory alive. Many of the team members have gone on to coach at various levels, giving back to the sport that brought them together.A Fairytale to Remember: The team’s journey was meticulously documented in a handwritten diary, capturing every moment of their Olympic adventure.Ann recounts how it all came about: “Our coach, Anthea Stewart, made a team rule of writing the day's events and happenings in a handwritten diary to document, from beginning to end, the story of our own Olympic journey – this was written in the same order as your team number. What incredible memoirs “Dear Diary” has safely tucked inside, with many laughs as we read through the various stories but also tears, as we remember our dear vice-captain and wonderful leader Liz Chase who has sadly passed on.”These memoirs, filled with laughter and tears, are a cherished testament to their incredible story. Despite being scattered around the globe, the remaining members of the Golden Girls maintain close contact, bonded by their shared history and the lifelong friendships forged during their golden moment.Their story, as recounted by Ann Grant, is a powerful reminder of what can be achieved with determination, unity, and a love for the game. The Golden Girls’ victory at the 1980 Moscow Olympic Games remains one of the most inspirational chapters in the history of women’s hockey and Zimbabwean sport.