Sports Bulletin ReportBusan (Korea): Table tennis legend Ma Long has etched his name in World Championships history one last time, leading China to a monumental 23rd Swaythling Cup at the ITTF World Team Championships 2024 in Busan. In what marks his final appearance at the World Championships, Ma Long's exceptional performance sealed a commanding 3-0 victory over France in Sunday's Men's Team final, solidifying China's position as a dominant force in the sport.In a highly anticipated rematch of the 1997 World Championships final, France made a formidable return to the Men's Team title match after 27 years. However, their aspirations to upset the reigning champions were thwarted by a determined Chinese team, led by Ma Long in his farewell appearance on the grand stage.The opening match set the stage for an intense showdown as Wang Chuqin and Felix Lebrun took centre stage, captivating spectators at the BEXCO Convention Centre. Despite Lebrun's stellar performance throughout the event, Wang's prowess secured an early lead for China.In the subsequent match, World No.1 Fan Zhendong faced off against Alexis Lebrun in a gripping display of skill and strategy. Despite a valiant effort from Alexis and a match point, Fan's relentless determination ensured victory for China, further solidifying their dominance.With victory within reach, Ma Long delivered a commanding performance against Simon Gauzy, extinguishing any hopes of a French comeback and cementing China's supremacy in the sport.Ma Long said: “Every World Championships is memorable to me, but this one is especially unforgettable. After a hard-fought semi-final yesterday, the team had a reset and came in today with a much better state of mind. I’ve had the support of my team and teammates, and I’m really happy I was able to help Team China win that one point and secure the title. At the same time, I’ve witnessed the growth of Fan Zhendong, Wang Chuqin, Lin Gaoyuan and Liang Jingkun, and I believe the team will only continue to grow stronger from here. I think this can be considered the last event of my World Championships journey. It’s a perfect end to conclude this journey with this victory.” 

Hameed ul Haq The Pakistan Tennis Federation (PTF) Elections, held on February 10, 2024, for the post of President, Secretary, and Treasurer were tainted by a strong controversy right from the start due to a questioned vote. The elections were held, after an inordinate delay of over a year beyond the expiry of the term of the incumbent federation, who desired to prolong its stay for as long as possible.The Elections featured two panels, one led by Major General Asghar Nawaz (Retd) and another by Aisam ul Haq. The election yielded a split result with the panel of the former winning two important slots of Secretary General and Treasurer while Aisam ul Haq could barely secure the slot of President with a narrow margin of one vote, which is considered disputed. The Chief Election Commissioner, Mr Shakeel Durrani, former Chairman WAPDA presided over the election process and faced a predicament when a candidate raised a serious objection challenging the eligibility of the vote of International Lawn Tennis Club (ILTC) Pakistan, an associate member unit of PTF. The objections were raised in the light of the PTF Constitution and it was pointed out that ILTC having defaulted in payment of dues of PTF for the last five years falls into the status of “expelled member” and hence loses the right to vote. The more serious amongst the other objections pertained to violation of Article 21 of said Constitutions according to which only the President of an associate member of PTF or his authorized representative can cast the vote. The President of ILTC passed away in March 2021, and with no President elected an aged Secretary of ILTC who is been ridden since long authorized, illegally, a representative to cast the vote in Elections which is considered a flagrant violation of the PTF Constitution.The Chief Election Commissioner, after duly acknowledging the objections to be genuine allowed the elections process to continue with the proviso that the objections would later be addressed through established rules and forms, as per the PTF Constitution, in a specially called General Meeting of PTF Council, within ten days.He made it clear that the voting results may alter or elections may be held again if the contested vote is found illegal as per the PTF Constitution. Another surprising aspect was that the observer representative of POA, the parent body of the Country’s sports federations, was kept out of the crucial first phase of the election proceedings when these objections were discussed with the Chief Election Commissioner.The vote of ILTC assumes significance because it openly nominated and expressed its support for the Panel led by the Aisam ul Haq and if the vote gets void, besides of embarrassment caused, the votes for President PTF will become equal and a tie will occur. The PTF’s outgoing Management, with an obvious bias, has also tried to give a twist to the matter by the incorrect recording of the Chief Elections Commissioner’s decisions in Minutes of Elections, issued on 17 February 2024 which has been promptly noticed by all stakeholders.Considering the past performance of the previous PTF set-up where no fresh crop of internationally competitive players was prepared resulting in a 4-0 drubbing of Pakistan’s Davis at the hands of an Indian Davis Cup team at Islamabad, there is a requirement that fairness, professionalism and merit is promoted in the tennis affairs. The holding of elections marred with illegalities and controversies bodes ill for the future of the game. Pakistan Olympics Association and the relevant stakeholders must step in to ensure that the election process of PTF is subjected to fair play, legality, and fairness, in the absence of which the entire edifice of tennis promotion and player development will remain elusive.(Editor Note: The writer is a former tennis player and achieved many titles for the country. If someone wants to give his point of view about this article Sports Bulletin will welcome, and publish that)  

Mohammad RizwanBusan (Korea): China clinched their 23rd title, narrowly avoiding an upset in a fiercely contested Women's Team final at the ITTF World Team Table Tennis Championships Finals Busan 2024 Presented by BNK Busan Bank. In a nail-biting battle, they clinched victory with a hard-fought 3-2 triumph over Japan, showcasing their enduring dominance on the global stage.The clash between China and Japan promised an evening of excitement, and it certainly delivered. The BEXCO Convention Centre was filled with electric energy as spectators witnessed the clash of titans under the bright lights. The showdown began with World No.1 Sun Yingsha facing off against 15-year-old sensation Miwa Harimoto. Despite Harimoto's valiant effort, Sun Yingsha's dominant performance secured an early lead for China with a commanding 3-0 victory.In the second match, Chen Meng and Hina Hayata battled fiercely, with the Japanese pulling off a stunning win against the Olympic singles champion in a thrilling four-game encounter. The unexpected turn of events levelled the match for Japan, adding an extra layer of excitement to the competition.With the pressure mounting, Miu Hirano extended Japan's lead with a magnificent 3-0 victory over Wang Yidi, leaving China on the brink of defeat. However, Sun Yingsha rose to the occasion, delivering a flawless performance to level the scores and force a decisive fifth match. The fate of the Corbillon Cup rested on the shoulders of Chen Meng and Miwa Harimoto, with both players giving their all in a tense battle. Despite Harimoto's spirited efforts, Chen's experience ultimately prevailed, securing China's victory and their 23rd Women’s Team title. Sun Yingsha said: "It was a really tight but exciting match for us today, and I’m really thankful for my teammates – not just the three of us who played but also Wang Manyu, Chen Xingtong, our coach Ma Lin and every teammate within Team China. We’re delighted with this final victory as the fifth match was anything but easy for Chen Meng. Her performance today really touched our hearts and it’s thanks to her that we managed to secure today’s victory." This thrilling final showcased the incredible talent and resilience of both teams, with China extending its remarkable reign in the Women’s Team at the World Championships Finals. As the countdown to the Paris 2024 Olympic Games begins, the thrilling upsets witnessed in Busan showcase the emergence of more contenders, injecting a new level of excitement into the sport. The list of teams already qualified is available here. More teams will qualify by ranking on 4 March 2024.

Sports Bulletin ReportDubai (USA): India blind cricket team outclassed Pakistan by 8 wickets in the final T20 encounter of the three-match Tie and won the series 2-1 here at ICC Cricket Academy, Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE) on Sunday. Ajay Reddy declared Man of the Match.Captain Nisar Ali, winning the toss for the third consecutive time, opted to bat first. Pakistan changed their opening pair, bringing in Badar Munir to maximize the power-play overs. However, Badar's early dismissal after scoring two boundaries set the stage for Muhammad Salman's splendid innings of 74 runs off 39 balls, with Muhammad Rashid contributing 32 off 22 balls. Pakistan posted 193 runs for the loss of 9 wickets in 20 overs, with Durga Rao standing out among the bowlers, claiming three wickets, while Venkatesh took two.In response, India chased down the target in the penultimate over, scoring 196 runs in 18.4 overs, losing two wickets in the process. Ajay Reddy's brisk innings of 66 runs off 35 balls turned the game in India's favor, supported by Sunil Ramesh's impressive 64 off 53 balls. Mohammad Salman and Mohammad Idress claimed one wicket each for Pakistan.Pakistan lost the three-match series by 2-1. Syed Sultan Shah, President of World Blind Cricket Ltd, graced the occasion as the guest, accompanied by Ek Radha Krishnan, Chairman Organizing Committee, Shabana Abdul Razzak, Co-Chairperson of the event organizing committee, Rajnesh Henry, the first Vice President of World Blind Cricket Ltd, Sabeen Gul, Vice President/Wing Head CSR Department National Bank of Pakistan (NBP), and Junaib Iqbal, CSR Officer NBP. They distributed trophies and other prizes amongst the players.                

Sports Bulletin ReportMULTAN: Multan Sultans finished their home leg on a high after defeating Quetta Gladiators by 13 runs at Multan Cricket Stadium on Sunday evening. After posting 180-4 in the first innings, the Mohammad Rizwan-led side restricted Quetta Gladiators to 167-9, courtesy of three-wicket hauls by Mohammad Ali and David Willey.Quetta Gladiators won the toss and elected to field first. Usman Khan, playing his first game of HBL PSL 9, started the innings with three boundaries in the first over. Abrar Ahmed provided the first breakthrough as Usman (14, 7b, 3x4s) was stumped in the third over. Reeza Hendricks joined Mohammad Rizwan in the middle and the two stitched a 79-run second-wicket partnership to bring momentum to Multan’s innings.Akeal Hosein broke the partnership in the 14th over as Rizwan holed one out to Saud Shakeel at deep midwicket. The Multan skipper had to walk back after scoring his 18th HBL PSL half-century that showcased two boundaries and four maximums.Subsequently, Tayyab Tahir – also playing his first game of HBL PSL 9 – partnered with Hendricks for a quickfire 77-run stand that helped Multan get to a satisfactory total. In the last five overs, Multan amassed 68 runs, with the 18th and 19th overs going for 17 runs each.By the time Hendricks was dismissed in the final over, the damage had been done as Multan ended at 180-4. With his knock that yielded 72 from 47, which included seven boundaries and four maximums, Hendricks overtook Lahore’s Sahibzada Farhan to become the tournament’s current leading run-scorer.Tayyab finished with an unbeaten 35 from 22, including four boundaries and a six. Mohammad Amir bagged two wickets while Abrar and Akeal picked up one each.In pursuit of 181, Quetta Gladiators lost both their opening batters inside the powerplay with Jason Roy falling on an exceptional delivery bowled by Mohammad Ali in the third over and Saud Shakeel getting caught at mid-on by Usama Mir off David Willey.Khawaja Nafay and captain Rilee Rossouw batted together to add 62 runs for the third-wicket partnership until debutant Aftab Ibrahim got hold of the latter on the last ball of the 12th over. Rossouw walked back for 30 off 18, on the back of a four and two sixes.Sajjad Ali, coming to bat as a concussion substitute for Sarfaraz Ahmed, could only make two off two before Rizwan stumped him off Usama Mir’s bowling. Trouble deepened for Quetta as Nafay (36, 31b, 2x4s, 2x6s) found Usama behind point, awarding Ali his second wicket of the day.Sherfane Rutherford contributed 21 from 14, including two maximums, before he was caught and bowled by Willey. In the same over, Mohammad Wasim Jnr also fell for just a run. Amir chipped in with 12 off eight, including two fours, before Ali rattled his stumps in the penultimate over. Aftab, bowling the final over, removed Abrar on the final ball to award Multan the game by 13 runs.Willey and Ali bagged three wickets while Aftab returned with two. Usama also dismissed one batter.

Sports Bulletin ReportLAHORE: FG Polo clinched the coveted trophy of the Bank Alfalah National Open Polo Championship for Quaid-e-Azam Gold Cup 2024 after defeating BN Polo by 8-6 in the main final played at historic Aibak Polo Ground of the Lahore Polo Club on Sunday.The match was a showcase of skill and determination, with Raul Laplacette leading FG Polo with a remarkable performance, scoring six of the team's eight goals. Andres Llorrente contributed the other two, ensuring their team's dominance. BN Polo's Santiago Loza responded fiercely, achieving a hat-trick of goals, supported by Hamza Mawaz Khan with two goals and Santos Iriarte adding one to their tally. The final was a rollercoaster of emotions and skills, beginning with BN Polo's quick lead of 2-0. FG Polo, however, quickly narrowed the gap by the end of the first chukker and continued to build momentum, eventually overtaking BN Polo. Despite a strong comeback from BN Polo to level the score at 4-4, the decisive fifth chukker saw FG Polo unleash their prowess, outscoring their opponents to clinch the championship with an 8-6 victory. The match was expertly overseen by field umpires Mark Holmes and Nicolas Scortichini, with Juan Zubiaurre acting as the match referee. In the aftermath of their triumph, FG Polo Captain Mian Abbas Mukhtar expressed gratitude for the team's hard work and preparation, attributing their success to divine favor. The championship also saw Olympia/AZB Polo taking home the subsidiary final trophy, narrowly defeating Diamond Paints/Master Paints by a 4-3 margin. The Lahore Polo Club took the occasion to honor contributions to the sport, presenting awards to notable individuals including a lifetime achievement award to former President Lahore Polo Club Irfan Ali Hyder. Awards were also distributed to various club staff for their exceptional service. Highlighting individual excellence, Raja Mikayial Sami received the best Pakistani player of the year award, while Raul Laplacette was named the best foreign player. Other accolades included the highest goal-scorer of the tournament awarded to Max Charlton, and recognition for the best local and final's best mare, showcasing the integral role of equine talent in the sport. 

Pakistan’s Ahmed Nael Qureshi overpowers Shijie Chen from China in straight sets 2-0 in finalAbdul Jabbar FaisalISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s rising tennis star, Ahmed Nael Qureshi outclassed high-ranked Shijie Chen from China in straight sets 2-0 in Boys’ Singles final of the ITF Pakistan Zainab Ali Naqvi Memorial World Junior Championship Leg-2 at PTF -SDA Tennis Complex Garden Avenue Islamabad on Saturday. The final score-line was 6-1, and 6-3.In the Boys’ Single final, pencil thin Ahmad Nael Qureshi exhibited classic game of tennis to overcome high ranking challenger Shijie, as he took over control on the match from starting and did not allow his rival to settle the feet on the court and finished first set at 6-1.In the second set, Ahmed Nael kept the same pace and game quality and won the set after conceding just three games and won the prestigious title for Pakistan after a long time. Senator Salim Saifullah Khan Ex-President-PTF, Aisam ul Haq Qureshi-President-PTF, Col (Retd) Ziauddin Tufail, and Mohammad Arif Qureshi Treasurer -PTF congratulated Ahmed Nael on his memorable victory.Senator Salim Saifullah Khan Ex-President-PTF was the chief guest at the closing ceremony. The closing ceremony was also attended by Col. Ziauddin Tufail [R], Col. Sadaf Akram, Saeed Ahmed-SEVP-PTF, Mansoor Ahmmad Khan DDG-PSB and a large number of players, coaches, parents, and tennis lovers.Senator Salim Saifullah Khan paid rich tributes to the young and talented Zainab Ali Naqvi- a young tennis player who had come to Islamabad from Karachi to participate in the ITF Juniors Tournaments and passed away on 12th February 2024 in Islamabad. The Ex-President-PTF said that the tennis fraternity is indeed in great shock and Zainab will be always remembered.Results (Finals):Boys’ Singles: Ahmed Nael Qureshi of Pakistan beat Shijie Chen of China 6-1, 6-3Girl's Singles: Kira Kalinouskaya of Belarus beat Paramee Tadkaew of Thailand 6-4, 6-2

Sports Bulletin ReportJeddah (Saudi Arabia): Guam thrashed Saudi Arabia 2-0 and exited the hosts from the title race for the 2024 West Asian Football Federation (WAFF) Women’s Championship.With qualification out of reach for both teams following previous results against Jordan and Lebanon, Saudi Arabia and Guam went head-to-head with a third-place finish in Group A up for grabs. While Saudi Arabia played well and went close on numerous occasions, Guam took all three points.Despite being unable to register a victory in its first-ever appearance in the competition, progression has been clear for all to see under new head coach Lluís Cortés as the team gave a solid account of themselves against strong opposition.For the women’s national team, attentions now turn to the future. The players will return to their club teams where they will resume playing in the second season of the Women’s Premier League until April. Taking place in Jeddah until February 29, the 2024 WAFF Women’s Championship is the first official 11-a-side women’s tournament ever held in Saudi Arabia.

Sports Bulletin ReportISLAMABAD: Pakistan slim & smart tennis player, Ahmed Neal Qureshi cruised into the Boys’ Singles final of the ITF Pakistan Zainab Ali Naqvi Memorial World Junior Championship Leg-2 after thrashing Jacob Kailiang Shen from Hong Kong 2-0 at PTF -SDA Tennis Complex Islamabad on Friday. The final score-line was 6-4, 6-3.Results (Semifinals):Ahmed Nael Qureshi (PAK) beat Jacob Kailiang Shen (HKG) 6-4, 6-3Shijie Chen (CHN) beat Kaigaoge Kang (CHN) 6-2, 6-4Girls’ Singles (Semifinals):Kira Kalinouskaya (BLR) beat Stefaniya Neporent (BLR) 6-4, 6-1Paramee Tadkaew (THA) beat Ekaterina Pestereva (RUS) 6-4 (Retd)Boys’ Doubles (Final):Dong Hyeon Euom(KOR) / Jiwan Park (KOR) beat Kaigaoge Kang(CHN) / Oscar Reilly 6-4, 5-7 (10-8)Saturday’s Schedule:GIRLS SINGLES FINAL: 10:30 amBOYS SINGLES FINAL: 01:30 pm 

Abdul Jabbar FaisalISLAMABAD: Oldenzaal Hockey Club aka Billy Club of Netherlands have won the thrice match tie 2-1 after beating the hosts Higher Education Commission (HEC) hockey team on a penalty shoot-out 4-3, as the score-line was 1-1 after all 4 quarters at Nasser Bunda Hockey Stadium Islamabad on Friday.Both teams started the match at a bit slow pace and were looking defensive, however, after a few minutes, players showed nice game skills and attacked the goalposts but could not score a goal. In the 11th minute, Mubasher scored a field goal and put the hosts in a 1-0 lead. He received the pass from the right side and diverted the ball into the goal without wasting a fraction of a second.The HEC team upheld the lead till the end of the third quarter. However, in the 52nd minute Dutch player Niels Engberink leveled the match 1-1 after scoring a goal on a penalty corner. The scoreboard remained unchanged 1-1 till the final whistle. Each side was given 5 penalty shoot-out to get the results of the 3-match tie.Mattis Barttelink, Ruben Kattier, and Leen Timmers scored goals for the Dutch Club while Jan Willem Wunbergen and Niels Engberink failed to score goals. Ali Murtaza and Mubasher showed excellent stick work and pushed the ball into the net but the other three lads including Ahmed Raza, Mohammad Zain, and Shaheer Ali missed the goals.The diplomats from various countries watched the match along with Olympians, sports enthusiasts, and university students from twin cities Rawalpindi and Islamabad. Ambassador of Dutch to Pakistan, Henny de Vries, the Australian High Commissioner, Neil Hawkins, Acting Ambassador of Romania to Pakistan, Eduard-Robert Preda, Ambassador of Kyrgyzstan to Pakistan, Totuiaev Ulanbek Asankulovich, the High Commissioner-designate of Brunei Darussalam, Colonel (Retd) Pengiran Haji Kamal Bashah and Ambassador of Morocco to Pakistan and Dean of the African Corps Mohammed Karmoune were present on occasion.