Sports Bulletin

SPORTS DESK ISLAMABAD (March 24, 2021):-The International Federation of Sport Climbing (IFSC) and USA Climbing jointly announced that the third Paraclimbing World Cup of 2021 would be taken place this 9 and 10 October in Los Angeles, USA, host city of the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games. The announcement marks a major achievement for both the IFSC and the Paraclimbing community, and was one of the key goals of the IFSC Strategic Plan 2020-2028, presented and unanimously approved at the XVI IFSC Plenary Assembly. The Strategic Plan called for the inclusion of Paraclimbing on the sports programme of the Paralympic Games Los Angeles 2028 – with the application deadline in the fourth quarter of 2021. This will be the second IFSC competition organised in the City of Angels in the last two years, following a very successful IFSC Pan American Championships in February and March 2020 at the Sender One Climbing Gym – the same venue that will welcome the IFSC Paraclimbing World Cup this October. Los Angeles beat out a number of excellent bids from other US candidate cities to host the competition. The 2021 Paraclimbing calendar also includes Paraclimbing world cups in Innsbruck, Austria and Briançon, France, with the IFSC Paraclimbing World Championships scheduled to take place in Moscow, Russia from 15 to 22 September. IFSC President Marco Scolaris said: “The confirmation of this event in Los Angeles is the cherry on top of an amazing Paraclimbing season. Against all adverse circumstances, still existing because of the pandemic, we’ll give everything to keep our hopes so high.” Sebastian Depke, Chair of the IFSC Paraclimbing Committee, said: “It is definitely a good sign to have a Paraclimbing Word Cup in Los Angeles, where the 2028 Paralympic Games that we aim to apply for will take place. We are thankful to the IFSC and the whole USA Climbing organisation for their commitment in holding the first-ever Paraclimbing World Cup on US-soil.” Marc Norman, Chief Executive Officer at USA Climbing, said: “We are thrilled to be hosting an IFSC Paraclimbing World Cup stop at Sender One at LAX. The Sender One team is phenomenal, and their facilities are world class, providing an event on par with the level of athletes. Hosting this important Paraclimbing World Cup in the United States and Los Angeles is an incredible opportunity to introduce the amazing Paraclimbing event and its athletes to the Organising Committee of the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games. We thank the IFSC for the opportunity and look forward to a great event hosted by Sender One and to watching the Paraclimbing athletes show us all what is possible.” Maureen Beck, Chair of USA Climbing’s Paraclimbing Committee, said: "After years of competing overseas, I could not be more elated for the US to stage an IFSC Paraclimbing World Cup. It's an honor to be able to host our climbing family from overseas and show them the momentum that USAC has built for the Paraclimbing community." Alice Kao, Chief Executive Officer of Sender One Climbing Gym, said: "Even though this has been one of the most trying years I can remember, when Marc asked me if Sender One would host a Paraclimbing world cup, we didn't hesitate to say yes. We all remember what we felt during the Pan-American Championships. I think we could all use some inspiration and joy."

SPORTS REPORT NALTAR (January 21, 2021):-Waqar Junior’s outstanding run in both Slalom and Giant Slalom events helped Gilgit Baltistan (GB) Scouts to lift the Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee (CJCSC) Alpine Ski Cup 2021 at Pakistan Air Force (PAF) Ski Resort, Naltar on Thursday. He was in supreme form in both Slalom and Giant Slalom races, and grabbed gold and silver medals in both categories respectively.  In the Slalom category, former Olympian Mohammad Abbas from Pakistan Air Force had a wonderful day on the slope and earned the gold medal in the respective category. The silver medal in Slalom was won by GB Scouts’s Waqar Junior, while Noor Mohammad from Pakistan Army claimed the bronze medal. Gilgit Baltistan Scouts also dominated in the Giant Slalom category, besides Waqar Junior’s gold, the silver and bronze medals were also won by his teammates Sajjad Ahmad and Waqas Azam respectively. Teams of PAF, Pakistan Army, GB Scouts, Swat, Punjab, Balochistan, Sindh, Islamabad, Azad Jammu & Kashmir (AJK), Higher Education Commission (HEC), Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) and Alpine Club of Pakistan (ACP) participated in the top national ski event.

Sports Desk ISLAMABAD (April 24, 2020):-The 2020 IFSC European Championships in Moscow (RUS) have been officially rescheduled in October. The championships, which were initially supposed to take place from March 20 to 27, had been previously moved to the month of June, but due to the growing complications caused by the pandemic of COVID-19, the event was forcedly postponed a second time. However, IFSC Europe, alongside the IFSC Sport Department and the Climbing Federation of Russia, kept working tirelessly throughout these very hard times, in order to find the best and safest solution for athletes, team officials, organisers, volunteers and fans, and finally set the appointment from October 1 to 8. The competition will award two quota places for Tokyo 2020 – one per gender, and the selection of the athletes that will battle for the Olympic slot in the Combined Qualifier will be based on their results within the three disciplines. The IFSC European Championships in Moscow will be the second continental championships organised in 2020, after the Pan American one was held in Los Angeles (USA) from February 24 to March 1, qualifying Canada’s Alannah Yip and United States’ Colin Duffy for the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games. IFSC President Marco Scolaris said: “I’m sure the IOC won’t mind if I borrow their motto for a moment: hope lights our way! Despite the fact that we live on a day-by-day basis, it is important to keep working for the future, in order to be ready when better days will come. The new dates of the European Championships are definitely a sign of hope and no surrender.” CFR President Dmitry Bychkov said: “We are all hoping for the best, and we are ready - with a successful combination of circumstances - to produce every effort and deliver the competition at the best possible level. All of us, organisers and fans, are willing to be finally able to see the best European athletes compete in Moscow.”

    By Abdul Jabbar Faisal ISLAMABAD (December 29, 2019):-Gilgit Baltistan Ski Association has won the Saadia Khan Ski Cup 2019 that was held at Pakistan Air Force (PAF) Ski Resort, Naltar. In the Under-14 and Under-16 events, Gilgit Baltistan athletes clinched the trophies while PAF won the trophies in the Boys Under-14 and Under-16 discipline of Ice Hockey. The winners were awarded trophies. In the women’s slalom category, Umaima Wali was awarded gold medal whereas Jiya Ali got silver medal. In the children ski competition, Girls’ Under-14 slalom, Mishal Hussain won the gold medal while Marrium Iqbal was awarded silver medal. In Boys’ ’’s Under-16 Saifullah won gold medal while Zubair Ali got silver medal. The gold medal in Boys’ Under-14 slalom category was clinched by Zaman Ali, while Zahir Ullah got silver medal. In the women’s giant slalom category, Khusheen Sahiba won the gold medal whereas Humaima Wali was awarded silver medal. In Skating Boys category-I Mohammad Iqbal was awarded the gold medal. In 2nd Speed Skating competition girls Under-12 Mishal Hussain won gold medal. In girls under-16 Minhal Aziz was awarded gold medal. In master category Khusheen Sahiba won the gold medal. Mubashir, Saifullah and Zia ur Rehman in under 12, under 16 and master category were awarded gold medals in their respective categories. On Sunday, a prize distribution ceremony was held, as the Air Marshal Javad Saeed Deputy Chief of the Air Staff (Administration) attended as chief guest. A large number of civil and military officials were present at the ceremony. Skiers from different Ski Associations, from all across Pakistan participated in the championship. At the end chief guest distributed medals and trophies among the players in different disciplines.