Sports Bulletin

Abdullah Asjad ISLAMABAD:-President, Pak-Swiss Friendship Forum (PSFF), Raja Hafeez Ahmed said that PSFF basic aim was to uplift the positive image of the country Switzerland particularly in whole Europe, which was defused by international media after 9/11 incident despite of this Pakistan had no link with said incident. While talking to this scribe during an exclusive sitting on other day he hoped that he would people of both countries close to understand each other through cultural and sports activities in Switzerland. “We are organizing our social, cultural and sports activities regularly. We also celebrate our national day with enthusiasm especially Independent day on August 14, Defense Day on September 6 and Pakistan Day on March 23 each year, as the cricket match always part of independent day August 14. We organize a match in which Pakistani people participate in large number to enjoy the game. We invite Pakistani community and also Swiss People to attend our traditional events and they could understand our norms, traditions and cultural, “he viewed. “Our basis aim is to enhance people-to-people contact. We invite people of both communities in all types of cultural and sports activities. We have established a Geneva Eleven Stars cricket club that participates in all the events. Under the banner of this club we support blind, disable persons, helpless women and street children of Pakistani community, “he said. To a question Raja Hafeez said that there were 22 registered cricket clubs in Switzerland and Pakistani, Indian and Afghanistan play cricket from different clubs. “Our club had won the League Championship in 2012 and we had given fair play award too. “We also stage other social activities including Musharia, Naat competitions. Our club also manages to tell the Muslims history to our youth and about our historical tourist places that are attractive for the local people of Switzerland. “ACV’s Chief Organizer Malik Naseer, Director Tourism Malik Mahroof and Director Development Sports Raja Saeed are doing also splendid job for our Forum, “he replied a question.    Responding to another question, Raja said, “PSFF invites Pakistani diplomats in the ceremony, as the last time Pakistani ambassador Naseem Ahmed Warach had graced our ceremony as chief guest. Pakistani officials also support us because our basic aim to highlight the soft image of the country among the Swiss people, “he concluded.      

Olympian Shah Hussain Shah inks new history in Judo Abdul Jabbar Faisal ISLAMABAD:-Shah finished at 5th place while losing Bronze medal fight in Dubai Grand Slam judo during his Olympic qualifying journey on Saturday. He lost from Canadian, who is currently world number 4. This is ever highest achievement of any Pakistani Judoka in world highest level contest after World championship. This spectacular performance by him will give a big jump in Olympic as well as World ranking.  PJF President Col Junaid Alam has expressed entire satisfaction as well as pleasure on this unprecedented achievement. He said that Shah will be sent to Australian Grand Prix after 4 days.  Also he will feature in last grand slam of this year in Nov and then an open championship in Hong Kong. Only two judokas with any coach or official participated in this event while Indian contingent was consisted of 14 judokas. Despite that Pakistan finished overall at 30th position while India finished at 40th position. Shah got bye in first round and then in 2nd round won with Wazari against world ranked 55 Savytskiy Anton Ukraine.   After reaching third round which was pre- quarter final, Shah played aggressively against world no. 28 Khurramov Mukhammad Karim of Uzbekistan and made him disqualified being extra defensive. In Quarter final Shah fought against Olympic World Ranker no.18 Mr.Kotsoiev Zelym from Azerbaijan. He lost this fight on points after striving for complete duration of 4 minutes. After that Shah outclassed    Chinese Judoka in repechage to reach in bronze medal fight where he faced world no 4 Canadian Athlete Elnahas Shady. He played very well in that fight but finally lost the fight. It is pertinent to mention that Olympic Judo qualifying is a two year period. Unfortunately despite many efforts by PJF he could participate in only one contest in first year of Olympic qualification whereas   other judokas of world participated in at least average of 6-7 championships. Despite verbal consent by minister IPC and DG PSB, not a single penny has been released so far by Pakistan Sports board. However PJF sent him to participate in 5 major championships including world and Asian championships as well as grand slams in last 5 months. Earlier he was sent for a month long training camp in International judo federation academy Budapest Hungary to learn European style of Judo which was his weakness. PJF expects that if he maintains the pace he will In sha Allah qualify for Tokyo 2020 thus making another history.

SB Report LAHORE:-Under the directive of Punjab Olympic Association, Sports Board Punjab, Punjab Basketball Association the open trials for the selection of Punjab Basketball Teams men & women on will be held on Thursday the 24th October, 2019. The women trails will be held at Lahore College University Women Jail Road Lahore at 10.00 am. While Men Basketball team trails will be held on same day i.e. Thursday the 24th October, 2019 in Sports Board Punjab Indoor Hall Nishtar Park Complex Ferozepur Road Lahore at 2.00 pm. Punjab Basketball Association already advised to All divisional basketball association is to send their best basketball players to participate in open trials on given date, time and venue.  

SB Report Baku:-Pakistan’s Minister of Inter Provincial Coordination (IPC) and Ministry of Sports & Youth Affairs of Azerbaijan signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to enhance the cooperation in the field of sports and youth activities. Signing ceremony was held in Baku on Monday. Federal Minister for IPC DR Fehmida Mirza and Azerbaijan Minister Sports & Youth Affairs Azad Rahimov signed the MoU. MoU between Pakistan and Azerbaijan in the field of sports was inked on 21st October 2019. It would facilitate direct cooperation, exchange of sports teams and create opportunity to hold joint sports events between two brotherly countries. Speaking to occasion, Federal Minister said, “Pakistan greatly values its relationship of cooperation with the Republic of Azerbaijan. I thank the Ministry of Youth and Sport for arranging this event to cement the cooperation between Pakistan and Azerbaijan for promoting sports.” “Today, ‘sport diplomacy’ has become an integral part of efforts to build friendly relations among the nations. Sport diplomacy uses the universal passion for sports to bring people together. Both of our countries have seen a long history of regional conflicts. Employing sport diplomacy tools can help us challenge prejudices, heal divisions and champion tolerance” Minister added. Federal Minister acknowledged that Azerbaijan successfully hosted Islamic Solidarity Games in 2017 and in collaboration with Azerbaijan would be learning experience for Pakistan to host mega events. Minister underscored the global contribution of Pakistan in cricket, hockey, squash, snooker and in some regional games like Kabaddi too. Minister also extended cooperation in the field of traditional sports as both countries have a vibrant culture in this type of games. Federal Minister also shared an idea of holding a conference on the topic of sports diplomacy and to explore its role in fostering peace and cultural exchanges. Azerbaijan Minister for Sports and Youth Affairs reciprocated same enthusiasm and showed desire to further cooperation in areas such as sports academia, exchange of expertise in sports infrastructure development schemes, exchange of sports experts and training of referees, coaches and technical officials.

  SB Report LAHORE:-A delegation of Pakistan Baseball Federation (PBF) called on Governor Punjab Choudhary Mohammad Sarwar at Governor House Lahore on Thursday. President PBF Syed Fakhar Ali Shah was leading the delegation.   Also, the advisers to health minister of the Punjab Dr. Azeem u deen Lakhwi, Manzar Shah Fareed executive director, Sadia Alwi chair person women wing, Dr Shaheen Gulraiz director youth baseball development, Basit Murtaza coach of Pakistan team, international baseball players of Pakistan and the other officials were present on this eve. President PBF gave a comprehensive briefing to governor of Punjab regarding the game of base ball, activities of federation and upcoming national and international competitions. He also presented the report of international baseball tournament of this year 2019 to governor including 14th West Asian Baseball Championship, which was played in Sri Lanka. Pakistan had won silver medal in Sri Lanka while in the 10th Under-15 Asian Baseball Championship Pakistan got sixth position China. Pakistani lads Syed Mohammad Shah awarded with the Asian best hitter while Zeeshan Ameen won best fielder award. overnor Punjab Mohammad Sarwar congratulated to Fakhar Shah for the excellent performance of Pakistan. On this occasion Fakhar Shah told governor that there was not a solitary baseball stadium in the country. Muhammad Sarwar assured federation’s official he would search a suitable place for the ground.  

SB Report LAHORE:-Director General Sports Punjab, Adnan Arshad Aulakh has said that youth was the real asset of Pakistan and youth were capability to steer the country into the right direction; he expressed these views while addressing Youth Conference 2019 at SBP E-Library, Nishtar Park Sports Complex on Tuesday. Director Sports Hafeez Bhatti, Divisional Sports Officer Nadeem Qaiser, DSO Tanveer Shah and large number of girls and boys were also present in Youth Conference held under the auspices of Jago NGO. Addressing the Youth Conference, Director General Sports Punjab Adnan Arshad Aulakh lauded the holding of Youth Conference. “Such platforms are need of the hour to give right direction to youth of the country especially in this crucial time”. “We have 64 per cent of youth in our country and such a large number of young people can change the fate of the country if they managed to utilise their abilities and potential properly”. Adnan Arshad Aulakh further said: “Our youth must realize its responsibilities. Through sheer hard work, our youth can surpass every kind of hurdles”. Aulakh said Sports Board Punjab was making effective efforts to provide sufficient sports facilities to youth of the province. “Sports activities are must for healthy youth. We are also going to launch youth policy in near future”. Highlighting Punjab govt’s measures for the bright future of youth, Director General Sports Punjab Adnan Arshad Aulakh said: “Punjab government recently launched Youth Portal. Our youth can utilise various facilities such as skill development, entrepreneurship and job opportunities etc with a single click in Punjab Youth Portal”. He also visited various departments of Punjab E-Library where Head Librarian Asif Bilal briefed him about different features and functions of E-Library.

Staff ReportLAHORE:-Rai Taimoor Khan Bhatti on Monday announced that Punjab’s 450-member contingent would take part in the 33rd National Games scheduled to be staged at Peshawar from Oct 26 to Nov 1, 2019. He was addressing a largely-attended press conference at National Hockey Stadium.Secretary Pakistan Olympic Association Khalid Mehmood, President PunjabOlympic Association Aamir Jan, Secretary Sports Punjab Nadeem Mehboob,Director General Sports Punjab Adnan Arshad Aulakh, Secretary Punjab OlympicAssociation Idris Haider Kh, Director Admin Javed Chohan, Director Sports HafeezBhatti and other top officials were also present on this occasion. Punjab Minister for Sports and Youth Affairs Rai Taimoor Khan Bhatti hoped that the upcoming National Games would prove to be game changer for the future of sports in the country. “We are quite hopeful that Punjab athletes will offer encouraging performances in the National Games”.Punjab Minister for Sports and Youth Affairs Rai Taimoor Khan Bhatti thankedPunjab Chief Minister Usman Buzdar for granting huge amount for the preparation of Punjab contingent for the National Games.President Punjab Olympic Association Aamir Jan, on this occasion also expressed his gratitude to Punjab Chief Minister Usman Buzdar for releasing funds for preparation and participation in National Games.  “Punjab players will participate in National Games with full preparation. The players for Punjab teams will be selected purely on merit and there will be no compromise in this regard”.President Punjab Olympic Association Aamir Jan informed that a 450-memberPunjab contingent would feature in 33rd National Games under the leadership of Punjab Minister for Sports, Youth Affairs and Tourism Rai Taimoor Khan Bhatti.Secretary Pakistan Olympic Association Khalid Mehmood said on this occasion that all the sports associations had been invited to participate in the National Games. Secretary Punjab Olympic Association Idris Haider Kh, on this occasion vowed to provide best facilities to members of Punjab contingent.