Katsiaryna, Kalinouskaya, Stefaniya, and Deniz reach in semifinals of women’s eventAbdul Jabbar FaisalISLAMABAD: Two Pakistani tennis lads, Ahmed Nael Qureshi and Hamza Roman have qualified for the semifinals of the Boys’ Singles event of the ITF Pakistan Khawar Hyat Khan Memorial World Junior Championship Leg-1 after thrashing their respective opponents at PTF-SDA Tennis Complex, Islamabad on Thursday.In the women’s fixture, Katsiaryna Dubik (BLR), Kira Kalinouskaya (BLR), Stefaniya Neporent (BLR), and Deniz Cakil (TUR) also qualified for the top-4 stage of the championship after winning their respective quarterfinals at the same venue. On Friday, the match will start at 10:00 am.Results:Boys’ Singles (Quarterfinals):Kaigaoge Kang (CHN) beat Ju Hun Choo (KOR) 6-3, 6-0Hamza Roman (PAK) beat Zhe Jiang (CHN) 6-4, 3-6, 6-3Dong Hyeon(KOR) beat Ivan Makarov (RUS) 6-3, 6-3Ahmed Nael Qureshi (PAK) beat Xiuyuan Guo (CHN) 6-4, 6-0Girls’ Singles (Quarterfinals):Katsiaryna Dubik (BLR) beat Jiazxiaoqi WEN (CHN) 6-1, 6-0Kira Kalinouskaya (BLR) beat Amna Ali Qayum (PAK) 6-0, 6-1Stefaniya Neporent (BLR) beat Paramee Tadkaew (THA) 4-6, 7-5, 6-3Deniz Cakil (TUR) beat Gyuree Nam (KOR) 7-5, 5-7, 6-4Boys’ Doubles (Quarterfinals):Dong Hyeon Euom (KOR) / Jiwan Park (KOR) beat Ahtesham Humayun / Mohammad Haider Ali Rizwan (PAK) 6-0, 6-1Jun Hyeok An (KOR) / Ye Chan Choi (KOR) beat Asad Zaman / Shehryar Anees (PAK) 6-2, 6-3Bilal Asim / Ahmed Nael Qureshi (PAK) beat Hamza Roman / Hamid Israr (PAK) 6-2, 6-3Howard Chan (HKG) / Xiuyuan Guo (CHN) beat Ege Avci (TUR) / Doruk Albirlik (TUR) 6-4, 6-4Girls’ Doubles (Quarterfinals):Jingke Yan (CHN) / Paramee Tadkaew (THA) beat Amna Ali Qayum/ Sheeza Sajid (PAK) 6-3, 6-1Kira Kalinouskaya (BLR) / Stefaniya Neporent (BLR) beat Deniz Cakil (TUR) / Jiaxiaoqi Wen (CHN) 6-1, 6-1.

Sports Bulletin ReportAmstelveen (Netherlands): The Para Dance Sport International Competitions 2024 will be held from March 29 to 31 here at Sportshal de Meerkamp van der Hooplaan Noorddammerweg Netherlands.According to an official, International Classification competitions will start on March 28 while Technical Meeting will take place on March 29. The closing ceremony will be held on 31st March 2024 at the same venue. 

Sports Bulletin ReportRourkela (India): Earlier in the day at the ongoing mini-tournament in the Birsa Munda International Hockey Stadium, Rourkela, India, Australia’s women managed to get the better of China for the first time since the Tokyo Olympics and the Netherlands notched up yet another victory after a fiercely contested encounter with the tenacious Indian side.Hours later, in Santiago del Estero, the Argentina men came out with confidence to defeat a young Belgian team by 4-1 thanks to two goals from speedster Nicolas Keenan. Just after, a classy and clinical Argentina women’s side blasted five past the Belgium red panthers to close out the evening with a home sweep. Victoria Manuele scored the game’s opener and her first international goal as icing on the cake. The Leonas sported a black band in honour of the recent passing of former Argentina women’s player Gabriela Pando. Pando played for the Leonas from 1989 to 1998 and won a 1995 Pan American Games gold medal and 1992 Olympic silver medal. (Women’s) Australia beat China (2-0): Australia last beat China in an International match at the Olympic Games on 26 July 2021, but they broke their losing streak with a hard-fought 2-0 win on Wednesday. The Hockeyroos attacked throughout the first half and enjoyed significant advantage in territory and possession, while China trusted their defensive structures and relied on rapid counterattacks for their limited opportunities. Xinhuan Li had plenty of work to do in the Chinese goal, denying Grace Young from close range with an excellent save. Grace Stewart eventually broke the deadlock in the 29th minute, tapping in a recycled penalty corner at the right post for a 1-0 lead at half-time.The third quarter was hotly contested as China finally enjoyed some good possession, but they couldn’t find a goal against a resolute Australian defence. The Hockeyroos soaked up even more pressure in the fourth quarter, Jocelyn Bartrum shutting down a dangerous one-on-one at the top of the circle in the 47th minute and then making another save two minutes later. China gave it everything at the death and pulled off their keeper with six minutes to play, but the move backfired when Stephanie Kershaw found the net for Australia after 57 minutes to put the match beyond doubt.(Women’s) Netherlands beat India (1-0): The Netherlands made heavy weather of their 1-0 win over India who were playing in front of a passionate home crowd. The Dutch probed throughout the first half, but it took them 27 minutes to find a goal. They dispossessed India inside the 23-yard area and got a quick shot away for Felice Albers to use her lightning reflexes to bat in off her reverse stick from Savita’s save.India had a busy third quarter, making repeated circle entries and winning five penalty corners but they couldn’t beat the Netherlands defence. The Dutch had opportunities of their own in a frantic period towards the end of the quarter but couldn’t score, even with Savita yellow carded in bizarre circumstances. Her defence were caught high and she accidentally kicked the ball far outside her circle after stepping out to slap it to safety. Savita was back in action in the fourth quarter, making amends with a flurry of great saves from four penalty corners to keep India in touch, but while there was plenty of action at both ends there were no more goals scored.(Men’s) Argentina beat Belgium (2-0): An experienced home side made it tough waters for a young Belgium side in the opener of the Santiago del Estero hosted games. Argentina’s hypnotic movements of possession gave the Leones good control of the tempo and kept Belgium keeper Simon Vandenbroucke busy. Nicolas Keenan opened the scoring in the final seconds of the first quarter with a brilliant upright reverse blast after Tomas Habif delivered a brilliant ball through a chaotic circle. Red Lions forward Thomas Crols picked Nicolas della Torre’s pocket in the second quarter and had an uncontested shot at goal but the blast ricocheted between Tomas Santiago’s kickers and scooted wide of the net. Argentina continued to show their dominance in the second half, despite not finding the back of the net on a series of penalty corners. Maico Casella doubled the lead finishing at the back post with no pressure after some quick passing from Lucas Martinez and Santiago Tarazona to make it 2-0. Belgium did not let up though as gritty work from Roman Duvekot forced Argentina’s Juan Catan to make an errant touch on his way back to the circle and Thibeau Stockbroekx provided the effort for a Belgium goal. A contested aerial into the Belgian circle then forced a video referral on right of territory for Keenan versus an encroaching Vandenbrouke but no advice possible left Argentina with the originally called penalty corner. Della Torre rippled the mesh to make it 3-1 for the Leones. Keenan added a second for himself and fourth for Argentina late in the game for a final score of 4-1. (Women’s) Argentina beat Belgium (5-0): The Leonas put on a clinical performance, 5-0 over the visiting Belgian Red Panthers, to make it a sweep in Santiago del Estero following the men’s victory. A younger Belgian line up, including seven faces from the 2023 Junior World Cup silver medal winning team, showed good structure and poise but struggled to manage the experience and crafty individual skills of the dynamic Leonas. Victoria Manuele was the first to put Argentina on the board in just the third minute, finishing brilliantly on the backhand to mark her first international goal in just her fourth appearance. Patient possession just inside the Belgian half allowed Argentina the control to pick their moments. Just before halftime Maria Granatto did all the work to spin the Belgian defence and commit keeper Elena Sotgiu and ultimately allow Celina di Santo to redirect and make it 2-0 for the Leonas. The offensive firepower continued as Agustina Albertarrio put a back-hand blast in to make it 3-0, while Agustina Gorzelany’s drag flick at the end of the third quarter made it 4-0. With Carolien Jakus off with a green card, the Leonas put on a master class on a penalty corner. Gorzelany delivered to the back post for a Trinchinetti stunner as the deflection rippled the mesh for 5-0. Noa Schreurs’ one-timer from Louise Dewaet almost put Belgium on the board but the ball rang the outside of the Argentina post.

Sports Bulletin ReportKARACHI: The HBL PSL ninth edition is around the corner with some of the leading stars of limited-overs cricket raring to light up cricket grounds in Pakistan. With a new coach and captain, Karachi Kings enter HBL PSL 9 with oodles of optimism and they'll show faith in their local talent as well as global star power to rebound. Karachi Kings will get their campaign underway on 18 February against Multan Sultans at the picturesque Multan Cricket Stadium.They've snapped up West Indies superstar Kieron Pollard in their squad who will try to swing their fortunes with his all-round capabilities. They have also secured the services of Australia all-rounder Daniel Sams as well as retained seasoned campaigner Shoaib Malik. Pace bowling is further stacked with Mir Hamza and Anwar Ali who will provide squad depth given their vast domestic experience and international exposure as well.Karachi Kings managed to bag only three wins in the 2023 season and despite having the firepower in their ranks to spring more surprises, they could not coalesce as a unit.The team's ethos includes resilience and a fighting spirit, and they'll be aiming to rejuvenate this season and give Karachi fans a lot to cheer about. The 2020 HBL PSL champions are determined to hit the ground running early on as the highly-experienced Shoaib Malik will be looking to shine at the twilight of his career.Phil Simmons comes with a wealth of coaching experience. He coached West Indies and is at present the head coach of Trinbago Knight Riders in the Caribbean Premier League (CPL) and LA Knight Riders in Major League Cricket (MLC).“The decision to bring in Phil Simmons as head coach was influenced by his impressive credentials, including being a T20 World Cup-winning coach. His experience in guiding teams to success at the highest level adds a valuable dimension to our coaching setup, and we look forward to harnessing his expertise for a successful campaign in the upcoming HBL PSL edition and to build a team for the future”, said Salman Iqbal, owner of Karachi Kings.Kings retained Shan Masood as their captain who currently leads the Pakistan Test team. Karachi Kings’ director Haider Azhar shed light on the decision to appoint Shan as skipper of the side. He said: “Securing Shan Masood for Karachi Kings was nothing short of a coup for us. His leadership qualities and captaincy feats are well-documented and we are proud to have a local boy from Karachi lead the team. On a personal note, having worked closely with Shan in the past, I believe he is the ideal captain for our team that will be undergoing a transitional phase and we expect him to be central to our project.”Karachi Kings fixtures for HBL PSL 918 February v Multan Sultans, Multan Cricket Stadium21 February v Peshawar Zalmi, Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore24 February v Lahore Qalandars, Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore28 February v Islamabad United, National Bank Stadium, Karachi29 February v Quetta Gladiators, National Bank Stadium, Karachi3 March v Multan Sultans, National Bank Stadium, Karachi6 March v Quetta Gladiators, Pindi Cricket Stadium, Rawalpindi7 March v Islamabad United, Pindi Cricket Stadium, Rawalpindi9 March v Lahore Qalandars, National Bank Stadium, Karachi11 March v Peshawar Zalmi, National Bank Stadium, Karachi

CAF and AFC nations make moves: Angola and Qatar make biggest stridesSports DeskISLAMABAD: Although it is a case of as you were amongst the ten teams that lead the way in the latest edition of the FIFA/Coca-Cola Men’s World Ranking, there is plenty of movement further down the standings following the matches contested in the CAF Africa Cup of Nations and the AFC Asian Cup.Amongst the African sides, Côte d’Ivoire (39th, up 10) reap the rewards of their continental triumph on home soil, secured following an eventful tournament campaign. Beaten finalists Nigeria (28th, up 14) make significant strides but are no match for the Angola side they ousted in the last eight (93rd, up 24), who are the biggest climbers in the latest instalment of the global ranking.In the points stakes, two-time Asian Cup winners Qatar (37th, up 21) chalk up the biggest tally (92.04 points) after capitalising on home comforts to successfully defend their continental crown. Elsewhere, Jordan (70th, up 17), who were edged out by the Maroons in the final, make good ground, as do Thailand (101st, up 12), whose journey came to an end at the last-16 stage.Qatar’s rise sees them enter uncharted territory, with two other teams also recording best-ever rankings. Senegal (17th, up 3), who suffered shoot-out heartbreak at the hands of the eventual winners Cote d’Ivoire in the Africa Cup of Nations round of 16, break new ground, while Tajikistan (99th, up 7) mark their maiden Asian Cup campaign by making a first-ever appearance in the top 100.

Sports ReportISLAMABAD: Shifa International Hospitals Islamabad beat 5 Pillars Cricket Club Rawalpindi by 7 wickets in the friendly T-20 Cricket match here at Ghouri Cricket Ground Islamabad.Shifa International Captain won the toss and invited to bat first 5 Pillars, 5 Pillars hit up 125 for loss of nine wickets in the allotted 20 overs. Waseem (20), Sohiab (17) and Abdul Wahdi (16) were the key contributors. Shifa International Syed Mudassar Bukhari (2 for 12), Imtiaz Alam (2 for15) and Tahir Akhtar (2 for 36) were the other main wicket-takers. In reply, Shifa International achieved the target in the 17th over for the loss of three wickets. Tahir Akhtar and Captain Qutab Uddin Qureshi contributed 93 runs in 3rd wicket partnership. Allrounder Tahir Akhtar 44 not out runs 42 balls with 8 Fours, Master Blaster Captain 43 runs 41 balls with 8 fours, while Khateeb 12 not out and Imtiaz Alam 10 were their leading run-getters. 

Sports Bulletin ReportKARACHI: Army's Saddamul Haq and Sindh's Naveed-ur-Rehman have qualified for the final of the third Image Torsum Khan All Pakistan Squash Championship. Also, WAPDA's Mehwish Ali and Sindh's Mahnoor Ali made it to the finals of the girls’ category.In the men's semi-final, played at the Pakistan Navy Roshan Khan Jahangir Khan Squash Complex, Army's Saddamul Haq outclassed Punjab's Ashar Butt in a one-sided contest with 3-0. In the second semifinal, Sindh's Naveedur Rehman defeated Army's Anas Ali Shah 3-2 after a tough fight.Results (semifinal):Abdullah Zaman beat Rayyan Bahadur (3-0) 11-9, 13-11, 11-6 (27 min)Ahmed Rayyan Khalil beat Abdul Ahad Butt (3-0) 11-9, 11-3, 11-8 (19 min)Women's (semifinals):Mehwish Ali beat Sehrish Ali (3-0) 11-7, 14-12, 11-7 (23 min)Mahnoor Ali beat Anum Aziz (3-0) 11-1, 11-8, 3-11 (21 min).

Sports Bulletin ReportLAHORE: The National Open Polo Championship for Quaid-e-Azam Gold Cup witnessed an enthralling match as Diamond Paints/Master Paints outpaced Olympia/AZB Polo with an 8-5 win on Wednesday at the Lahore Polo Club Ground 1 on Wednesday. Juan Zabiaurre Canal led the charge for Diamond Paints/Master Paints, netting four outstanding goals, while Martin Gandara added three and Mir Huzaifa Ahmed scored one to secure their team's triumph. On the opposing side – Olympia/AZB Polo – Novillo Astrada displayed remarkable prowess on the field scoring four fabulous goals, while Nicolas Corti added to their tally with a skillful goal. The match kicked off with Diamond Paints/Master Paints quickly asserting their dominance, scoring two consecutive goals for an early lead. They continued their offensive push, extending their lead to 3-0. Olympia/AZB Polo managed to respond just before the second chukker concluded, narrowing the gap to 3-1. The teams traded goals in the third chukker, maintaining Diamond Paints/Master Paints' advantage at 5-3. Continuing their superior performance into the fourth chukker, Diamond Paints/Master Paints widened their lead further by scoring two goals against Olympia/AZB Polo's single goal, setting the stage for the final chukker at 7-4. The decisive fifth chukker saw Diamond Paints/Master Paints solidify their victory with an additional goal, despite a late effort from Olympia/AZB Polo, ending the match at 8-5. The match was expertly officiated by field umpires Mark Holmes and Abdul Sattar Khan Niazi, with Santiago Loza serving as the match referee. The event attracted a large crowd, including families eager to witness the gripping action on the second day of the prestigious National Open Polo Championship 2024, supported by Bank Alfalah at the historic Lahore Polo Club. 

Sports Bulletin ReportRiyadh (Saudi Arabia): Saudi Tourism Authority (STA) and Roshn Saudi League (RSL) are pleased to announce a significant partnership, naming ‘Saudi, Welcome to Arabia’ as an official Platinum Sponsor of RSL.The collaboration aims to leverage the league's popularity, which features some of the world's most decorated footballers. It highlights STA and RSL’s commitment to showcasing Saudi Arabia’s rich cultural heritage and vibrant sporting scene to a global audience.As part of the agreement, STA will work alongside RSL to develop and promote tourism products and experiences that position Saudi Arabia as a leading travel destination, attracting visitors from the broader MENA region and across the world. This sponsorship is expected to bolster connections with Saudi football clubs, setting the stage for future partnerships and collaborations.Abdullah Ibrahim Alhagbani, Chief of Partnerships and Executive Affairs STA said: "Our partnership with RSL represents a significant step forward in our mission to elevate Saudi Arabia as a leading global tourism destination. Together, we will showcase Saudi’s rich cultural heritage and diverse attractions, underpinned by our firm dedication to excellence in the realms of sports and entertainment. This partnership showcases the reputation and growing influence of RSL, both locally and globally, and aims to unify efforts in attracting tourists and promoting Saudi’s unique tourist destinations and international events held throughout the year.”Carlo Nohra, the Chief Operating Officer at the Saudi Pro League, said: “Our partnership with ‘Saudi, Welcome to Arabia’ reflects RSL’s expanding influence and appeal globally. It embodies our mutual commitment to excellence and our dedication to delivering memorable experiences for football fans from around the world. Together, we aim to establish new standards for sports and tourism in the region and showcase the best of Saudi Arabia to the world."The partnership agreement represents a pivotal milestone for RSL, enhancing its international presence and establishing Saudi Arabia as a premier destination for football on the global stage. This collaboration also aligns with RSL's aim to globally expand its fanbase, utilising Saudi Arabia’s renowned attractions and leading position in the tourism sector.

Sports Bulletin ReportISLAMABAD: The ITF Pakistan Khawar Hyat Khan Memorial World Junior Championship Leg-1 matches resumed after a day break here at PTF-SDA Tennis Complex Islamabad, as all matches were postponed due to the sudden death of Zainab Ali Naqvi, a junior tennis player from Karachi on Tuesday.Boys’ Singles (Pre-Quarter Finals):Kiagaoge Kang (CHN) beat Howard Chan (HKG) 6-3, 6-2Xiuyuan Guo (CHN) beat Jiwan Park (KOR) 6-3, 6-4Hamza Roman (PAK) beat Ahtesham Humayun (PAK) 6-4, 6-1Dong Hyeon Euom (KOR) beat Hamid Israr Gul (PAK) 7-6 (3), 6-4Ahmed Nael Qureshi (PAK) beat Papangkorn Bunyarit (THA) 6-1, 6-1Zhe Jiang (CHN) beat Kieran Lin (USA) 0-6, 6-4, 6-0Ju Hun Choo (KOR) beat Ilya Kryukov 7-5, 6-0Girls’ Singles (Pre-Quarter Finals):Paramee Tadkaew (THA) beat Sheeza Sajid (PAK) 6-1, 6-0Amna Ali Qayum (PAK) beat Deren Cetinakaya (TUR) 6-1, 6-3Stefaniya Neporent beat Jingke YAN (CHN) 6-3, 6-1Jiaxiaoqi WEN (CHN) w/o Ruslana Ruslanova (KAZ)Boys’ Doubles (Pre-Quarter Finals):Dong Hyeon Euom (KOR) / Jiwan Park (KOR) beat Mohammad Kashan Tariq / Amir Mazari (PAK) 6-1, 6-0Ege Avci (TUR) / Dorukl Elbirlik (TUR) beat Mohammad Hamza Aasim / Mohammad Salar Khan (PAK) 6-3, 6-4Ahtesham Humayun / Mohammad Haider Ali Rizwan (PAK) beat Par Chandragholica (THA) / Kieran Lin (USA) 6-4, 6-2Howard Chan (HKG) / Xiuyuan Guo (CHN) beat Papangkorn (THA) / Narathip Rueangsri (THA) 6-3, 6-1Bilal Asim / Ahmed Nael Qureshi (PAK) beat Daniil Varaksa / Akmal Arabdjanov (UZB) 6-4, 6-1.