Sports Bulletin ReportTAXILA: Duo of Pakistan WAPDA badminton players, Irfan Saeed and Mohammad Ali Larosh set to meet in the final of the Men’s Singles Fixture after beating Muqeet Tahir and Awais Zahid respectively in the first and semifinals here at POF Mini Sports Complex on Saturday. The final will be played on Sunday morning at the same venue. Results (Semifinals):Men’s Singles: Irfan Saeed (Wapda) beat Muqeet Tahir (Wapda) 21-18, 23-21Mohammad Ali Larosh (Wapda) beat Awais Zahid (Wapda) 21-12, 21-16Women’s Singles:Ghazala Siddique (Wapda) beat Laiba Masoud (Wapda) 21-13, 21-8Mahoor Shahzad (Wapda) beat Ammarah Ishtiaq (Army) 22-20, 16-21, 21-9Men’s Doubles:Raja Zulqarnain (Army) & Mohammad Ali Larosh (Wapda) beat Azeem Sarwar (Wapda) & Murad Ali (KP) 21-18, 21-12Awais Zahid & Zunain Javed (Wapda) beat Muqeet Tahir (Wapda) & Mohammad Adnan (Army) 21-14, 21-10. 

LAHORE (SBR) Punjab University students have set new records beside won gold, silver and bronze medals in the 52nd National Athletics Championship held in Multan.Punjab University students from various departments have participated in 52nd national athletics championships at Multan and clinched gold, silver and bronze medals in various competitions. A student from Punjab University College of Pharmacy Sammi ullah secured 2 bronze medal as well as made new HEC records in 800m with the timing of 1:53.10 while the 2nd record in 1500m with the timing of 3:55.5. PU’s Hailey College of Commerce Malaika Shehzadi secured 2 Gold medals in 400m race and 4x400m relay race.She also obtained 1silver in 4x100m relay, 1 bronze in 4x400m mixed relay race. PU Institute of Social & Cultural studies Nida Karim secured 1 gold medal in 4x400m relay race. PU VC Prof Dr Mohammad Ali congratulated the Director Sports Dr Mohammad Ali Klasra and students. 

Sports Bulletin ReportMuscat (Oman): Women's Hockey Junior Asia Cup 2024 will be played in Muscat, as the 10 teams from Asia region will fight for top honour. Top five will be eligible to participate in the upcoming FIH Junior Hockey Women’s World Cup 2025, to be played in Chile, with an expanded competition format that will feature 24 teams for the very first time. The fixture will be concluded on December 15, 2025 in Oman.The ten participating teams have been split into two pools, with Pool A comprising Bangladesh, China, India, Malaysia and Thailand. In Pool B it’ll be Hong Kong, Japan, Korea, Sri Lanka and Chinese Taipei who will compete for the top-2 spots that will confirm not just a semi-final spot, but also, through it, secure a Junior World Cup spot.Each team in the pool stage will play the other four teams in their pool once. The top two teams in both pools will qualify for the semi-finals, while the teams in third and fourth positions will compete for the 5-8 place classification, with the team finishing the event in 5th place securing a Junior World Cup spot. The losing semi-finalists will play in the bronze medal match, with the two finalists competing for gold. All four semi-finalists will qualify for the FIH Junior Hockey World Cup 2025.The FIH Junior Hockey Women’s World Cup 2025 will be played in Santiago, Chile. Chile have qualified as the hosts of the competition. Argentina, Uruguay, United States and Canada have qualified from the Americas. Belgium, England, Germany, Netherlands, Spain, Ireland, Wales and Scotland have qualified from Europe. Following the five qualifiers from Junior Asia Cup, three more teams from Oceania and Africa (each) will qualify for the World Cup to complete the qualification process over the next few months. 

Sports Bulletin ReportTorino (Italy): National Federations worldwide connected with the International Federation of Sport Climbing (IFSC) for the third edition of the Climbing Summit.Aiming to inform and update its participants, the III IFSC Climbing Summit was held virtually and moderated by longtime IFSC collaborator Peter Stafford. IFSC President Marco Scolaris was joined by the Executive Board in Torino, Italy, to cover several key topics.After the Summit opened and attendees were greeted by President Scolaris, the focus turned to the Olympic Games, with Secretary General Debra Gawrych road mapping the journey both to the Games and in relation to the IFSC Strategic Plan 2020-2028.Governance came into focus through IFSC Oceania President Naomi Cleary, who brought the conversation to the Climbing family after Francesco Ricci Bitti – President of the Association of Summer Olympic International Federations ­– addressed the National Federations.With LA28 set to feature Para Climbing, IFSC Treasurer Pierre You spoke of the newly-added sport with former International Paralympic Committee Commercial & Marketing Director Alexis Schäfer also connected to present on the future ahead of the sport.A cornerstone of IFSC activities, Athletes’ Health was once again brought to the attention of the Summit and member Federations, this time through Olympian and Athletes’ Commission member Alannah Yip and Medical & Anti-Doping Commission chair Naama Constantini.IFSC Vice-President Wolfgang Wabel spoke of the Sustainability plans for the future before attention turned back to the Olympic Games.Tokyo 2020 reflections were shared by IFSC Vice President Kobinata Toru and former Tokyo 2020 Sports Director Murofushi Koji, while Paris 2024 Sport Manager for Sport Climbing Vincent Caussé brought things up to the present. Also introduced by Mr Caussé was a video message from the President of the Organising Committee of Paris 2024, Tony Estanguet.The future vision was then shared by Niccolò Campriani and Jack Smith, respectively LA28 Sports Director and Sport Group Manager, before final remarks from President Scolaris drew the Summit to a close.“Getting close to the end of an unforgettable year, 2024,” said President Scolaris. “I wish we all could realise that we have climbed to the largest stage, and we are now visible to the entire world. This was and is a necessary step to translate into reality our strategic plan, our mission, inspired by our vision.”

ISLAMABAD (Sports Desk): Following the much-anticipated draw that revealed the eight groups that comprise the FIFA Club World Cup 2025™, football fans around the world now also know exactly where and when to follow their clubs at FIFA's new global club showpiece which is taking place in the United States from Saturday, 14 June to Sunday, 13 July 2025.FIFA has published the 63-game match schedule with dates and kick-off times for the groundbreaking tournament, revealing a tantalizing set of fixtures for the 32 club teams that will aim to become the first ever champions of world football’s inaugural elite club competition.It has also been decided that the opening match will be a stand-alone fixture, with the host country’s representative, Inter Miami CF, kicking off the new FIFA Club World Cup™ in style at their hometown 65,500-seat Hard Rock Stadium against Al Ahly FC on Saturday, 14 June 2025 at 21:00 local time. MetLife Stadium in New York New Jersey will not only see the new FIFA Club World Cup Trophy lifted on Sunday, 13 July 2025, but will also host the two semi-finals and one of the quarter-finals.FIFA President Gianni Infantino said: “The paths for the 32 teams have been set and we now know at what time and where, among 12 top-class stadiums, we will enjoy the 48 exciting group stage clashes. Together with another 15 matches in the knockout stage, this match schedule sets 63 dates in the diary of every football fan – those living in the US, traveling from abroad to these beautiful cities to support their clubs, or following live and for free from every corner of the world via DAZN and FIFA+.“This match schedule is much more than a list of thrilling fixtures involving the best clubs in the world – it shows that club football can, and will be, truly global. Let’s take it to the world.” 

Sports Bulletin ReportISLAMABAD: Hamdard University Islamabad Campus (HUIC) Sports Week 2024 concluded with an exciting day of celebrations, including the cricket finals, a lively family gala, and a grand closing ceremony. The week-long festivities brought together students, faculty, and their families in a vibrant display of sportsmanship, teamwork, and community spirit.  Cricket Finals: A Display of Talent and Strategy: The day began at 9:00 AM with the highly anticipated cricket finals. The Faculty of Management Sciences triumphed in the boys' final with a stellar performance, while the Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities clinched victory in the girls' final. The matches concluded at 1:00 PM, with players and spectators alike energized by the thrilling competition. Family Gala: Fun and Togetherness: At 11:00 AM, the Family Gala began, adding a festive atmosphere to the campus. Families of faculty and staff enjoyed a variety of games, activities, and food stalls. From face painting and ring toss to a wide array of delicious cuisines, the gala catered to all age groups and brought everyone together in a spirit of joy and camaraderie. Closing Ceremony: Celebrating Achievements: The day culminated with the grand closing ceremony at 2:30 PM. The program began with a recitation from the Holy Quran and the National Anthem, followed by an address by Dr. Hasan Raza, Associate Dean of the Faculty of Engineering, Science, and Technology (FEST) and Convener of Sports Week 2024. Dr. Hasan commended the participants and organizers for their hard work and dedication, emphasizing the role of sports in fostering discipline, teamwork, and resilience.The Director General of HUIC delivered an inspiring speech, encouraging students to carry the same spirit of determination into all aspects of their lives. A video presentation showcasing the highlights of the “Sports Week” met with applause, as it captured the enthusiasm and talent displayed throughout the week.Results and Awards:Table Tennis: [Winner’s Faculty Name] Basketball: (Faculty of Pharmacy Boys)Volleyball:FEST (Boys) Faculty of Management Sciences (Girls)Football:FEST (Boys) Department of Physio Therapy (Girls)Track and Field Games: Faculty of Pharmacy (Boys and Girls)Tug of War: Faculty of Pharmacy (Girls and Boys)Cricket: Boys: Faculty of Management Sciences Girls: Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities Trophies and medals were awarded to winners and runners-up by the Director General and other dignitaries. Special recognition was given to standout players for their exceptional skills and sportsmanship. Unity and Sportsmanship: The event concluded with a vote of thanks from the organizers, acknowledging the efforts of all participants, faculty, and families who contributed to the success of Sports Week 2024. Sports Week not only showcased the athletic prowess of Hamdard University students but also brought together the university community in a celebration of unity and collaboration. The university looks forward to continuing this tradition of excellence in the coming years. 

Irfan Saeed, Muqeet Tahir, Awais Zahid, and Mohammad Ali Larosh qualify for semifinalsSports Bulletin ReportTAXILA: Irfan Saeed (Wapda), Muqeet Tahir (Wapda), Awais Zahid (Wapda), and Mohammad Ali Larosh (Wapda) moved into the semifinals of the men’s single event of the Chairman POF Ranking Badminton Championships after beating their respective opponents in Wah Cantt on Friday.Results:Men’s Singles (Quarterfinals):Irfan Saeed (Wapda) beat Mohammad Adnan (Army) by 21-18, 21-16Muqeet Tahir (Wapda) beat Aoun Abbas (Wapda) by 21-13, 21-9Awais Zahid (Wapda) beat Zohaib Khan Khalil (Police) by 21-8, 21-19Mohammad Ali Larosh (Wapda) beat Tayyab Shafiq (SNGPL) by 21-17, 21-7Women’s Singles (Quarterfinals):Ghazala Siddique (Wapda) beat Umam Usman (SNGPL) by 21-10, 21-8Laiba Masoud (Wapda) beat Kanzul Eman (PB) by 19-21, 21-12, 21-15Mahoor Shahzad (Wapda) beat Sana Hanif (SNGPL) by 21-8, 25-23Ammarah Ishtiaq (Army) beat Bushra Qayum (Wapda) by 21-11, 21-19

Sports Bulletin ReportTAXILA: Mohammad Ali Larosh of Pakistan WAPDA overpowered top national badminton players Murad Ali from Khyber Pukhtunekawa (KP) 21 in the men’s singles fixture of the ongoing Chairman POF Ranking Badminton Championships in Wah Cantt on Thursday. The final score-line was 21-17, 19-21, and 21-12.Results (Day-2)Men’s Singles (Pre Quarterfinals):Irfan Saeed Bhatti (Wapda) beat Azeem Sarwar (Wapda) by 21-15, 21-15Mohammad Adnan (Army) beat Jalees Konain (SNGPL) by 17-21, 21-12, 21-19Muqeet Tahir (Wapda) beat Hamdullah (KP) by 21-11, 21-9Zohaib Khan Khalil (Police) beat Mohammad Zaid (KP) by 20-22, 21-17, 21-19Aoun Abbas (Wapda) beat Raja Zulqarnain Haider (Army) by 19-21, 21-19, 25-23Awais Zahid (Wapda) beat Uzair Khan (KP) by 21-6, 21-18Tayyab Shafiq (SNGPL) beat Raja Hassan Mujtaba (Army) by 21-23, 21-17, 21-18Mohammad Ali Larosh (Wapda) beat Murad Ali (KP) by 21-17, 19-21, 21-12Women’s Singles (Pre Quarterfinals):Ghazala Siddique (Wapda) beat Farzana Ali (Wapda) by 21-8, 21-10Umama Usman (SNGPL) beat Saima Waqas (Wapda) by 22-20, 21-13Kanzul Eman (PB) beat Zubaira Islam (SNGPL) by 22-20, 12-21, 21-18Laiba Masoud (Wapda) beat Sehar Abdul Majeed (PB) by 21-16, 21-11Sana Hanif (SNGPL) beat Roshane Ihsan (PB) 21-8, 21-8Mahoor Shahzad (Wapda) beat Amal Muneeb (PB) by 21-16, 21-12Bushra Qayum (Wapad) beat Saba Rasheed (Wapda) by 21-10, 21-14Ammarah Ishtiaq (Army) beat Huma Javed (Wapda) by 21-8, 21-18.

PCB ReportLAHORE: The Pakistan men’s selection committee has announced the squads for the upcoming South Africa tour, scheduled from 10 December to 7 January. The tour comprises three T20Is, three ODIs and two Tests.Babar Azam has been named in all three squads along with Mohammad Rizwan, Saim Ayub and Salman Ali Agha, while Naseem Shah has been selected for the Tests and ODIs. Shaheen Shah Afridi, who also missed the last two Tests against England, has been picked for the white-ball matches as part of his workload management so that he is in his best fitness and form for the ICC Champions Trophy 2025.Also returning to the Test side is fast bowler Mohammad Abbas, who last played in Jamaica in August 2021. Abbas, who has taken 90 wickets in 25 Tests, had a stellar Quaid-e-Azam Trophy, claiming 31 wickets in five matches. Naseem Shah has also been named in the four-man pace attack after missing the last two Tests against England. The 21-year-old, who has played 19 Tests since making his debut in November 2019, has taken four wickets to date for Lahore Whites against Peshawar in the ongoing Quaid-e-Azam Trophy match in Abbottabad.Fast bowler Khurram Shahzad has also been named in the Test side after claiming 15 wickets for Pakistan Shaheens against Sri Lanka ‘A’ last month. Mir Hamza is the fourth fast bowler in the 15-man Test squad and is presently playing for Peshawar against Lahore Whites in Abbottabad.However, off-spinner Sajid Khan has missed out on selection despite his 19 wickets against England. The selectors, after taking into consideration the Centurion and Newlands conditions as well as South Africa as the opposition, have opted for only one specialist spinner in Noman Ali, who took 20 wickets against England and has 67 wickets in 17 Tests.Also earning the selectors nod for the first time in ODIs is Sufyan Moqim, the left-arm wrist spinner who has taken eight wickets in two T20Is, including five wickets for three runs in the second T20I.The T20I squad will depart for South Africa on Friday, 6 December, after Thursday’s third T20I against Zimbabwe, while the ODI and Test players will depart for Johannesburg on 13 December. Pakistan men’s red-ball head coach Jason Gillespie will also arrive in Johannesburg on 13 December to supervise the pre-Test series camp.Names of selected players for South Africa tour:Tests: Shan Masood (captain), Saud Shakeel (vice-captain), Aamir Jamal, Abdullah Shafique, Babar Azam, Haseebullah (wk), Kamran Ghulam, Khurram Shahzad, Mir Hamza, Mohammad Abbas, Mohammad Rizwan (wk), Naseem Shah, Noman Ali, Saim Ayub and Salman Ali AghaODIs: Mohammad Rizwan (captain & wk), Abdullah Shafique, Abrar Ahmed, Babar Azam, Haris Rauf, Kamran Ghulam, Mohammad Hasnain, Muhammad Irfan Khan, Naseem Shah, Saim Ayub, Salman Ali Agha, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Sufyan Moqim, Tayyab Tahir and Usman Khan (wk)T20Is: Mohammad Rizwan (captain & wk), Abrar Ahmed, Babar Azam, Haris Rauf, Jahandad Khan, Mohammad Abbas Afridi, Mohammad Hasnain, Muhammad Irfan Khan, Omair Bin Yousuf, Saim Ayub, Salman Ali Agha, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Sufyan Moqim, Tayyab Tahir and Usman Khan (wk)Aqib Javed, member selection committee and interim white-ball head coach said: “We have adopted a horses for courses policy to ensure all three squads are well-balanced and capable of performing strongly in South Africa. Leaving out Sajid Khan, despite his stellar performances against England, was an extremely tough and difficult decision. However, considering the pace-friendly conditions at Centurion and in Cape Town, we opted for Mohammad Abbas instead, who is an outstanding exponent of seam bowling. Shaheen Shah Afridi’s exclusion from the Test squad is a strategic decision to ensure he remains physically and mentally fresh for the ICC Champions Trophy 2025. Similarly, Fakhar Zaman was not considered as he is yet to regain form and match fitness. Our aim is to maintain consistency in ODI selections as part of our ICC Champions Trophy 2025 preparations, while also giving emerging talent opportunities in T20Is alongside experienced players. For Tests, we have focused on assembling a squad that can adapt to challenging conditions and consistently compete at the highest level. The Test series against South Africa will be highly competitive, but we are confident in our team’s ability to secure a historic series win. Our focus in ODIs is to continue building momentum ahead of the Champions Trophy, while the T20I series provides a platform to blend experience with emerging talent.”The series will begin with the first T20I in Durban on 10 December, followed by the first ODI in Paarl on 17 December. The Test matches will be hosted at Centurion and in Cape Town on 26 December and 3 January, respectively.Tour schedule:10 Dec – First T20I, Durban13 Dec – Second T20I, Centurion14 Dec – Third T20I, Johannesburg17 Dec – First ODI, Paarl19 Dec – Second ODI, Cape Town22 Dec – Third ODI, Johannesburg26-30 Dec – First Test, Centurion3-7 Jan – Second Test, Cape Town.

Islamabad (Sports Desk): Another closely fought match in the ExxonMobil Guyana Global Super League (GSL) saw Lahore Qalandars defeat Victoria by 10 runs in Providence.The Australian outfit had looked the side to beat after they won their first two matches in style but they were undone by an impressive Qalandars display with bat and ball with Tabraiz Shamsi's spell the difference between the two sides.Victoria won the toss and captain Corey Anderson chose to insert the opposition. Mirza Baig played an anchoring role from the top of the order, accumulating 39 from 36 balls to set the foundation for a decent total.Anderson shuffled his pack and used a total of seven bowlers, it proved an effective tactic as the Qalandars batting card never managed to pull away, Mohammad Faizan was run out for 25 off 21, Tom Abell and Mohammad Akhlaq made 17 and 26 respectively and were the only other contributions of note.Qalandars captain Carlos Brathwaite fell for a golden duck after seeing his stumps splattered by Jackson Smith, Smith picked up three scalps and was joined in the wickets by the impressive Dominic Drakes. Drakes also collected a trio of wickets whilst stitching together 14 dot balls in his four overs to finish with a frugal economy rate to boot.Victoria needed 140 runs to win after dismissing the Qalandars for 139 but after a confident opening stand of 67 between Blake Macdonald and Joe Clarke they then lost regular wickets over their remaining overs.Tabraiz Shamsi was the pick of the bowlers for Qalandars, the slow left arm wrist spinner proved nigh on unplayable on the night, taking 3-11 off four overs that included an unbelievable 16 dot balls and not a single boundary being hit off him in a well deserved Player of the Match performance.Karima Gore provided resistance for Victoria but when he fell for 25 off 22 at the start of the 19th over it meant his side were down to their last pair. 12 runs played one wicket in the final over, Faheem Ashraf sealed the win by cleaning up Jackson Smith with his third delivery.The result sees things tighten up in the GSL table with Qalandars, Victoria and Guyana Amazon Warriors all on four points with two wins and a loss apiece. The next round of matches will prove crucial in deciding who makes the final.