Sports Bulletin ReportISLAMABAD: It was a good day for Argentina at the FIH Hockey Pro League in Antwerp, Belgium on Thursday with both their women’s and men’s sides getting the better of Australia. The women’s side romped to a 5-0 victory for a sixth straight win, while there was just one goal between the sides in the men’s encounter. Meanwhile, Belgium’s women’s side drew 1-1 with China before snatching the extra point in a shootout and the men’s team came from behind twice to get the better of Spain.(Women’s) Argentina beat Australia (5-0): Argentina delivered a devastating second-half performance in a 5-0 win over Australia. Las Leonas dominated the stats throughout, defending well when necessary, escalating the pressure as the game progressed, and creating goal-scoring opportunities at will in the second half. It was a patient start though, Stefania Antoniazzi scoring the only goal of the first half with a 21st-minute field goal.The Argentinians ramped up the pressure in the third quarter and Lara Casus bagged her first international goal from a penalty corner variation in the 41st minute. They then ran rampant through the final quarter, and only Jocelyn Bartram’s heroics in the Hockeyroos’ goal prevented a far bigger scoreline. Maria Granatto scored a diving penalty corner deflection in the 46th minute, Eugenia Trinchinetti hammered in a field goal four minutes later, and Agustina Gorzelany added a penalty stroke for Argentina’s fifth goal as her side comfortably extended their winning streak to six games.(Women’s) Belgium 1 – 1 China (SO: 4 – 3): Hosts Belgium defended desperately to claim a share of the points in a 1-1 draw against a rampant China and then went on to win the resulting shootout 4-3 for a bonus point. Belgium’s Elodi Picard was by far the busier of the two goalkeepers as China enjoyed huge dominance in territory, possession, penalty corners, and circle penetrations throughout the 60 minutes. China just couldn’t finish, and it was Louise Versavel who put Belgium ahead in the 20th minute from a goalmouth scramble after a Chinese error.The Belgians found themselves in a pressure cooker for the entire second half as China raised their intensity. But the Chinese struggled to find the back of the net until the 50th minute when Xiaoxue Zhang equalised with a field goal. The momentum was very much with China but they still couldn’t find a winner, and they were left to rue missed opportunities as they gave up the lead twice in the shootout.(Men’s) Argentina beat Australia (2-1): Argentina came from behind to clinch a tight 2-1 win against Australia. The Aussies were better in the first half and took the lead through Tim Brand’s 7th-minute tap-in at the left post. Both teams missed opportunities as the half progressed and Australia led 1-0 at the break.Argentina raised their intensity and drew level with a Nicolas Della Torre drag flick just seconds into the third quarter. Lucas Toscani then put Argentina ahead with a 40th-minute field goal, and the quarter ended at a frenetic pace after a flurry of green cards opened some space. The Argentinians defended well through the final period and the Kookaburras sacrificed their goalkeeper to chase a result with 4 minutes remaining, but Tomas Santiago rounded off his magnificent personal performance to deny them at the death.(Men’s) Belgium beat Spain (3-2): Hosts Belgium came from behind twice in a nail-biting 3-2 win over Spain. The vastly more experienced Belgians dominated the opening half without reward, although Spain looked threatening on the break and created a couple of chances.The match came alive in the second half when Pepe Cunill put Spain ahead with a 34th-minute drag flick. John-John Dohmen levelled matters for the Red Lions in the 41st minute, but Antonio Sanz restored Spain’s lead immediately. Three minutes later Belgium equalised again through a sensational Loïck Luypaert drag, and Alexander Hendrickx then gave the Belgians the lead with another, 5 minutes from time. Luis Calzado saved a penalty stroke for Spain with two minutes remaining to give his team one last roll of the dice, but Belgium managed to hold them out, much to the relief of the home supporters.

Sports Bulletin ReportLondon (UK): England beat Pakistan by seven wickets in the fourth and final T20I of the series at the Oval on Thursday to take the series 2-0. Both teams wrapped up their preparations for the ICC T20 World Cup 2024 by warming up in the two T20I games at the Oval and Edgbaston while the games at Cardiff and Headingley were washed out.In pursuit of the 158-run target Jos Buttler and Phil Salt walked out all guns blazing as they hammered the ball to all parts of the ground. The duo ransacked 78 runs in the powerplay as Salt hit five fours and two sixes while Buttler belted five fours and one six.Haris Rauf removed Salt (45, 25b, 6x4s, 2x6s) in the 7th over and Buttler (39, 20b, 7x4s, 1x6) in the 9th over as England cruised to 102-2 at the halfway mark. Haris returned in the 11th over to dismiss Will Jacks with a searing yorker (20, 18b, 1x4, 1x6) who had hit him for a six a ball before.In the following over Jonny Bairstow belted Shadab Khan for two consecutive sixes to keep the run-rate abreast. An unbeaten 46-run fourth-wicket partnership between Brook (17 not out, 14b, 1x4, 1x6) and Bairstow (28 not out, 16b, 1x4, 3x6s) took England home with 27 balls remaining and seven wickets in the bag. Rauf was the lone wicket-taker for Pakistan.Earlier, after England invited Pakistan to bat first, the opening batters Mohammad Rizwan and Babar Azam put on a solid 59-run partnership hitting eight fours and a six. Jofra Archer drew the first blood for England as he removed Babar (36, 5x4s, 1x6) on the last ball of the powerplay.In the seventh over, Adil Rashid rattled Rizwan’s stumps who departed after scoring 23 off 16 balls with the help of three fours. England managed breakthroughs at regular intervals as the spin duo of Moeen Ali and Adil Rashid eked out the vital scalps of Fakhar Zaman (9, 9b, 1x6) and Shadab Khan (0, 1b) respectively leaving Pakistan 84-4 at the halfway mark.Azam Khan copped a five-ball duck in the 11th over. Usman Khan, in his breezy knock of 38 off 21 balls, smacked three boundaries and two sixes. Liam Livingstone delivered a double-wicket maiden dismissing Usman and Shaheen Shah Afridi as he left Pakistan reeling at 126-7 after 15 overs.Iftikhar Ahmed (21, 18b, 2x4s) and Naseem Shah (16, 18b, 1x4, 1x6) pushed Pakistan past the 150-run mark before England wrapped up Pakistan’s innings for 157 all out in 19.5 overs. For England Rashid, Livingstone and Mark Wood bagged two wickets each. Archer, Moeen and Chris Jordan struck once apiece.

ISLAMABAD (Sports Desk): The exciting ATF U12 Team Competition South Asian Qualifying Event, held at Kathmandu, Nepal, concluded with India emerging victorious in both the Boys' and Girls' categories competitions. The tournament, hosted by the Nepal Tennis Association and supported by the Kazakhstan Tennis Federation, saw seven nations from the South Asian region battle it out for a coveted spot at the U12 Finals later this year.In a thrilling boys' final, top-seeded India defeated Pakistan with a 2-0 score to claim the championship title. Sri Lanka secured a hard-fought 3-0 victory over Bangladesh in the 3rd-4th place playoff to clinch the bronze medal. Nepal outplayed Maldives in a close 2-1 contest to finish fifth, while Maldives and Bhutan rounded out the standings in sixth and seventh place respectively.The girls' category witnessed India maintaining their dominance, securing their fourth consecutive win with a 2-0 victory over Sri Lanka. Sri Lanka finished a close second with three wins, while Bangladesh managed a commendable third place with two wins. The host nation, Nepal, finally found their winning touch, defeating Maldives in a tight 2-1 encounter to finish fourth. Maldives, unfortunately, couldn't register a win throughout the tournament.

Abdul Jabbar FaisalISLAMABAD: Pakistan outclassed Australia 3-0 in the last 3-match Sarsabz Volleyball Series encounter at Liaquat Gymnasium, Pakistan Sports Complex Islamabad on Thursday evening. The final score-line was 26-24, 25-20, and 25-20.This historic series win marks a significant achievement for both the Pakistan Volleyball team and the Pakistan Volleyball Federation (PVF). The players showcased exceptional skill, teamwork, and determination throughout the series, reflecting the rigorous training and strategic planning that went into preparing for these matches.The trophy presentation was graced by the esteemed presence of Rana Mashhood Ahmad Khan, Chairman of the Prime Minister's Youth Programme, Government of Pakistan. In his address, Mr. Khan praised the team for their remarkable performance and dedication, highlighting the importance of such victories in promoting sports and inspiring youth across the nation.Chairman PVF, Chaudhry Mohammad Yaqoob said: This victory is a testament to the hard work and perseverance of our players and coaching staff. It also reflects our commitment to elevating the standard of volleyball in Pakistan and competing at the highest levels internationally."The series win against Australia, a formidable opponent, is not only a boost for the team’s morale but also a significant milestone in the history of Pakistani volleyball. The matches were well-attended by enthusiastic fans, whose support played a crucial role in motivating the players.Following this triumphant series, the Pakistan Senior Volleyball Team is set to depart for Bahrain to participate in the AVC Challenger Cup. The tournament is scheduled to be held from June 2-9, 2024.

Sports Bulletin ReportRiyadh (Saudi Arabia): In a new era for Saudi Arabia football, the 2023/24 Roshn Saudi League proved a game-changing season - with more goals, interest, and growth for the league than ever before.Omar Mugharbel, Saudi Pro League CEO, said: “The 2023/24 Roshn Saudi League season will be remembered as a milestone moment in the growth of elite football in Saudi Arabia. Some of the best players in the world chose the Roshn Saudi League to showcase their incredible talents alongside the next generation of young Saudi talent. Their arrival amplified even further the huge interest in the league from fans, broadcasters and sponsors. It is impossible to overstate how much of a game-changing season 2023/24 has been.”On the pitch, champions Al Hilal created football history, and global headlines, by setting a world, top-flight record for the number of successive victories – winning 34 games in a row across all competitions in an unbeaten campaign.Cristiano Ronaldo built on his success in calendar year 2023, where he netted the most club goals in the world with 54 in 59 appearances and also set a record for most goals scored in a season. The five-time Ballon d’Or winner, who made his Al Nassr debut in January 2023, scored an incredible 35 goals from 31 Roshn Saudi League matches in the 2023/24 campaign. In the most entertaining season of the modern era a total of 909 goals were scored – an increase of 40% from last year’s campaign.The season began with major internationals signings such as Karim Benzema, Neymar, Riyad Mahrez, Sadio Mane, N’Golo Kante, Georgino Wijnaldum, Aleksandar Mitrovic, Ruben Neves attracting 156 players from 54 countries that have been part Roshn Saudi League. With a focus on developing young Saudi talent to excel on the global stage, the age eligibility for young players was reduced from 18 to 16 years old with the average age of players season dropping to 27.5 years old.Off the pitch, the transformation of the league generated even wider global attention. These were reflected in major milestones achieved across metrics such as broadcast deals, sponsorship agreements, and social media reach. More than 160 countries broadcast the Roshn Saudi League on 38 global platforms taking the league to more football fans than ever before. Digitally the Roshn Saudi League social media channels grew with 6.72 million new followers, representing a 141% increase from the start of the season.

PAF, and WAPDA reach semifinals after beating Police and Sindh Greens respectivelySports Bulletin ReportKARACHI: Pakistan Air Force (PAF) and Pakistan Wapda continued their winning journey by beating their opponents and reached in the semifinal round of the ongoing All-Pakistan Muhammad Majid and Abdul Nasir Memorial Basketball Tournament here at Siddique Memon Sports Complex on Thursday.On the third day of the six-day event, PAF showed some aggressive game against the Police to win the third consecutive victory by 75-40 points. PAF’s Mehtab Akram scored 18 points and Mohammad Akhtar scored 14 points. In the second match, Balochistan faced another defeat against Sindh Greens by 43 points to 85 points. Taimour Zaheer and Rana Athar of Sindh Greens scored 15, 15 points respectively.In the third match, Punjab Rangers defeated Sindh Whites by 81 points to 56 points. Mohammad Mudassar scored 26 points and Fakhar Akram scored 16 points and played a vital role in Rangers’ victory. In the fourth match, Wapda also won their third consecutive victory against Sindh Greens by 91-50 points.

Sports Bulletin ReportKARACHI: Pakistan Wapda, Pakistan Air Force (PAF), Rangers, Sindh Greens have won their matches in the first round of the All-Pakistan Mohammad Majid-Abdul Nasir Memorial Basketball Tournament here at Siddique Memon Sports Complex on Tuesday.Mayor Karachi Murtaza Wahab Siddiqui inaugurated the 6-team fixture while Associate Secretary of Pakistan Basketball Federation Mohammad Yaqoob Qadry and other personalities were also present on the occasion. On the first day of the event, Pakistan Wapda after a one-sided competition defeated Sindh Whites by 74 points against 36 points. In the second match, Pakistan Rangers defeated Balochistan by 74-40 points while Sindh Greens defeated Sindh Whites by 84-53 points. In the fourth match, Pakistan Air Force defeated Islamabad by 75 points against 43 while Police defeated Sindh Yellow by 62-32 points.

Sports Bulletin ReportLausanne (Switzerland): The Men’s Indoor Asia Cup 2024 came to an end over the past week with Iran claiming the title following a stunning 7-1 victory over Malaysia in the final, as both teams secured their spot at the upcoming FIH Indoor Hockey World Cup 2025, which will be played in Poreč, Croatia from 3-9 February 2025. 8 teams competed in the Men’s Indoor Asia Cup 2024, in Taldykorgan, Kazakhstan from 21-25 May 2024. Iran, Thailand, Singapore and Tajikistan were placed in Pool A, while Malaysia, Indonesia, Kazakhstan and Oman were placed in Pool B. Iran, 8-time winners of the competition, were dominant in the Pool A, winning all their matches, with Thailand finishing in second place. In Pool B, it was Malaysia in the top place, followed by hosts Kazakhstan in second. The format of the Indoor Asia Cup 2024, saw the top two teams from each pool placed into one pool, for a second round-robin stage. Iran once again topped the pool with 2 wins and a draw. Malaysia finished second with one win and two draws. As the top-2 finishers in the second round-robin phase, Iran and Malaysia qualified for the final, and with two spots available from the competition for the upcoming FIH Indoor Hockey World Cup Croatia 2025, both Iran and Malaysia had qualified for the premier indoor hockey event. The final was a stark contrast to the pool stage match between Iran and Malaysia, which had ended in a 3-3 tie. Iran showed their championship mettle to run away with the contest, scoring four unanswered goals in the opening quarter, effectively putting the result beyond doubt. The final score ended up as 7-1 in the favour of Iran, who claimed their 9th consecutive Indoor Asia Cup title and will once again be among the top teams in the World Cup, where they became the first Asian team to snag a podium place with a bronze medal in the 2018 edition, and followed it up by another bronze medal performance in the most recent edition in Pretoria 2023. 

ISLAMABAD (Sports Desk): The prestigious British Open returns to Birmingham for the second successive year. The event will run from 2-9 June with action taking place from the Edgbaston Priory Club and The Rep Theatre.A total of 96 players will compete across the week including all of the world's leading players. We've taken a look at the top contenders in each draw and broken down their seasons so far and chances of taking home the titles next week in Birmingham.Ali Farag: Men's top seed Ali Farag is the leading player in the men's draw again this year. The defending champion took the 2023 title in impressive fashion to win the event for the first time, whilst also fasting to observe Ramadan. Since that win last April, the World No.1 has won 10 World Tour events and reached the final in all but one of the tournaments that he has played in, terrific consistency from the Egyptian.With the disappointment of losing out in the semi-finals of the recent World Championships, Farag could return to action with fire in his eyes to prove why he is the best player in the world. Multiple British Open titles will certainly be on Farag's wish list.Paul Coll: 2x British Open champion Paul Coll is the No.2 seed for the event and will relish a glass court back indoors. The New Zealander has won four events this season, three of which have seen the latter stages played on indoor glass courts as opposed to the outdoor ones that are predominantly seen in Egypt. Coll undoubtedly prefers these conditions and after having a break whilst the Manchester Open and QSF 3 were happening, the Kiwi will be returning to action with a fresh mind and body, which spells danger for the rest of the field.Diego Elias: The new World Champion Diego Elias will be back in action for the first time after his momentous win at the British Open as he looks to claim his first Platinum event win of the season. The Peruvian has no doubt enjoyed his win but will make sure that he is fit and firing for the last Platinum tournament of the campaign. Elias looked to be lacking confidence at times this season but that will not be the case now after his last event in Cairo.Elias finds himself in a tricky portion of the draw, which includes five top 16 players: Victor Crouin, Youssef Soliman, Tarek Momen, Joel Makin and Youssef Ibrahim. If Elias progresses through those tough matches to the semi-finals, a potential rematch with Ali Farag is on the cards. The Egyptian will certainly be after revenge following his dethroning.Mostafa Asal: 'The Raging Bull' Mostafa Asal earned a place in his first World Championships final in his previous event, falling in the final to rival Elias in three games. The week looked to have took its toll on the young Egyptian in the title decider but the World No.4 will be desperate to return to action in Birmingham.Asal has endured an up and down season but after a disappointing start has found his form in the second half of the season with wins in Florida and Black Ball as well as three runner-up finishes. A slight knee injury forced his late withdrawal from the Manchester Open but hopefully the entertaining 22-year-old has overcome that and will be ready to take on his rivals again in Birmingham.If the seedings go to plan, Asal will need to defeat both the Elshorbagy brothers in consecutive rounds to move into the semi-finals, where Paul Coll may be waiting.Nour ElSherbini: World No.1 Nour ElSherbini will return to defend her British Open title next week in Birmingham and is once again seeded to scoop the top prize. The Egyptian has been a force to be reckoned with again this season, winning six titles and firmly establishing herself as the World No.1. Despite the wins, ElSherbini may not count this as one of her best seasons due to tasting defeat in a World Championships for the first time since 2017 as she lost out to Nouran Gohar in the final a few weeks ago in Cairo. The loss certainly would have stung the 7x World Champion who will be gunning for revenge next week.Nouran Gohar: Having lost the last three World Championship finals, some thought that Nouran Gohar would never lift the coveted trophy, but 'the Terminator' proved them wrong as she deservedly defeated thorn in her side ElSherbini in four games to claim the title a few weeks ago in Cairo.A terrific accomplishment for Gohar who has been in great form since her return from injury. The confidence that the World No.2 will be feeling now is probably the highest it's ever been and having not won the British Open since 2019, Gohar will be sure that she can take home the title and claim the Worlds and British double.Hania El Hammamy: 2022 champion Hania El Hammamy knows what it takes to win this prestigious event and she will need to draw on every bit of that experience from 2 years ago to lift the title next week.El Hammamy claimed two Platinum titles in the first half of the season but since the turn of the year is trophy-less in five attempts. Two losses to ElSherbini and Gohar as well as a loss in London to Sivasangari Subramaniam have left the 23-year-old searching for answers in her game. She has recently started working with former World Champion Laura Massaro and although this may turn out to be a good partnership, changes in swing and mentality take time to be fully embedded into a players game.The feisty, clinical nature of El Hammamy makes her a danger at any event and with coach Massaro on hand next week, another British Open would certainly be a welcome end to the season for the World No.3.

Abdul Jabbar FaisalISLAMABAD: Pakistan outclassed high-ranked Australia in straight games 3-0 in the opening fixture of the 3-match bilateral volleyball series at Liaquat Gymnasium, Pakistan Sports Complex Islamabad on Tuesday. Spiker, Hammad Arshad was declared the best player of the match.The Sarsabz Volleyball Series 2024 kicked off today with a thrilling encounter in an exhilarating display of skill and determination. The final score-line was 25-22, 25-22, and 25-20, as the hosts made a significant achievement for the Green Shirts and the Pakistan Volleyball Federation (PVF).The match was a testament to the hard work and preparation of the Pakistani players, who demonstrated exceptional teamwork and strategy on the court. The victory has set a positive tone for the series and has energized the fans and supporters of volleyball in Pakistan.The Sarsabz Volleyball Series 2024, featuring three matches between Pakistan and Australia, promises to deliver more exciting volleyball action. The second match of the series is scheduled for tomorrow, 29th May 2024, at 6:30 PM. Fans can catch the live broadcast on Geo Super and the official YouTube channel of Pakistan Volleyball.This series is not only an opportunity for the Pakistani team to showcase their talent but also a significant step in strengthening international sports relations and fostering a competitive spirit among athletes. The PVF extends its gratitude to the fans, sponsors, and media partners for their unwavering support and invites everyone to join in and cheer for the green shirts in the upcoming matches.Pakistan Team: Murad Jehan (captain), Kashif Naveed (Vice Captain), Usman Fariyad, Afaq Jan, Fakhar Watto, Aimal Khan, Murad Wazir, Waleed Khan, Ali Haider, Hammad Arshad, Musawar Khan, Zaheer Jutt, Nasir Ali, Yaseen khan Australia Team: Nehemiah Mote (captain) Luke Perry, Arshdeep Dosanjh, Jackson Holland, Trent O’dea, Matthew Aubrey, Max Senica, Beau Graham, Thomas Heptinstall, Sam Flowerday, Nicholas Butler, Ethan Garrett, William D’arcy Miles, Jacob Baird.