Football stadium of international standard to be built in Karachi: Imtiaz Ali Shah

KARACHI: Secretary Sports and Youth Affairs Sindh, Imtiaz Ali Shah said on Monday that Karachi will soon have an international level football stadium since the interest in the sports is growing and fans want to see regular football tournaments now.

Talking to media here, Imtiaz further said that he will be visiting all the football stadiums in the city from tomorrow and will assess and implement the measures to upgrade the sports arenas from the platform of his department.

“Chief Minister Sindh Murad Ali Shah has a definite vision to create a healthy environment for people through sports and healthy activities and we at Sindh Sports Department have started the renovation and upgrade measures across Sindh.”

“The renovation and uplift of Hyderabad Club is now complete and it will be inaugurated on Oct 24,” said Secretary Sports. “An astro-turf was installed at Public School, Hyderabad and was opened to teams on Sept 6.”

He said that 18th Sindh Games will be held in a befitting manner in Karachi disclosed that an all-Sindh inter-division girls cricket tournament will also be held in December.

Also present on the occasion were Mrs Asma Ali Shah, wife of later Dr Mohammad Ali Shah, and Commissioner Karachi Sports Committee’s Coordinator Ghulam Mohammad.

Imtiaz paid lofty tributes to the tremendous services to sports by of late Dr Shah and his family and Asma Shah assured the secretary of all cooperation in holding major sports events in the city.—Agencies

Nameer, Laraib, Nibras beat opponents in Afeef Trophy tennis

KARACHI: The Afeef Trophy Sindh Ranking Tennis Championships commenced here at the BeachView Club DHA on Sunday with over 100 plus entries received for various events.

Muhammad Khalid opened his account with a comprehensive win agains tKashan Tariq on the first day of tournament in a match that went full distance. The scores were7-5, 1-6, 10-8.

In other matches of the mens singles event, Ashar Mir and Mohammad Ali beat their respecive opponents in straight sets.

On the second day, Nameer Shamsi beat Ahsan Siddiq 6-2, 6-1 in mens singles pre-quarters. Nameer was in fine form and outplayed his rival by displaying some breathtaking strokes.

In U-15 matches, Abdullah Razzaq, Nibras Malik, Rahim Veqar beat their opponnets while in under-13 event, Inaya Sayeed, Abdul Haseeb and Ibrahim Sajjad scored fine victories to advance.

Results (first day):

Men’s Singles (1st round): Muhammad Khalid beat Kashan Tariq 7-5, 1-6, 10- 8; Ashar Mir beat Saad 6-0, 6-0; Muhammad Ali beat Saad Ahmed 6-1, 6-1; Ahsan siddiq beat Shahmir Usman 6-4, 6-4; Uzair Katchi beat Amir Mumtaz 6-2, 6-2

Boys Under-15 Singles (1st round): Kashan Tariq beat Fahad Ahmed Ansari 4-0, 4-1.

Results (second day):

Men’s Singles (1st round): Mustafa Burney beat Shehroz Asad 6-1, 6-3; Saad Salim beat Fahad Abid 6-2, rtd.

Men’s Singles (second round): Nameer Shamsi beat Ahsan Siddiq, 6-2, 6-1

Men’s Doubles (1st round): Bilal Imran Lohya & Murad Khan beat Asaad Sheikh & M Sitvat 8-6

Under-15 Singles (1st round) : Abdullah Razaq beat Moosa Faisal 5-4, 5-4; Raahim Veqar beat Ashar Siddiqui 5-4, 4-1; Nibras Malik beat Nisar Hussain 4-0, 4-0; Abdul Qadir beat Taha Babar 4-1, 4-0

Under-13 Singles (1st round): Inaya Sayeed beat Abdul Razaq 4-2, 4-0; Abdul Haseeb beat Aahil Sayeed 4-0, 4-0; Ibrahim Sajjad beat Kaamil Sayeed 4-1, 4-2

Under-11 Singles (1st round): Laraib Shamsi beat Muzammil Yasin 4-3, 5-4; Ayan Rizvi beat Muhammad Ayan 4-1, 4-0.—Agencies

Brilliant Munir clinches Punjab Golf title

LAHORE: Mohammad Munir dethroned defending champion Matloob Ahmed to win the 39th Punjab Golf Championship title here at the PAF Skyview Golf course on Monday.

Munir of Rawalpindi Club posted five-under-par-67 to make a three-day aggregate of 206. Though at the start of the day, Matloob, the leader on the first two days, looked a potential winner, Munir eventually dominated the proceedings.

As Munir overpowered Matloob, Mohammad Shahzad of Lahore Garrison with six-under-par-66 earned second position after failing to make it to the leaderboard on the first two days. Matloob finished third with 209 (68+70+71).

Matloob recorded a card of 71 to make an aggregate of 209, followed by Mohammad Shabbir (Islamabad, 211) and Suleman Akhtar (Gymkhana, 213).

In the amateurs section Salman Jehangir of Lahore Gymkhana won the first gross with scores of 70,75 and 77 and an aggregate of 222. Qasim Ali Khan, also of Gymkhana, came second (224). Umar Khokhar of Bahria Rawalpindi was third (230).

In the ladies section, Parkha Ijaz (Defence Raya) claimed first position, Aaniya Syed (PAF Skyview) clinched the the runner-up spot while Suneyah Osama (PAF Skyview) came third.

In the senior professionals category, Mohammad Akram took the first position, followed by Tahir Nasim and Raja Iftikhar. Abdul Wadood claimed the junior professionals crown, Faizan was while Akash Bashir was third.

Results of senior amateurs category:

Lt Col Asif Medi (1st net); Tariq Mehmood (2nd net); Ahsan Ghias (3rd net)

Rustam Chatta (1st gross); Rashid Akbar (2nd gross); Lt Col Waqar Ahmed (3rd gross).—Sports Reporter

Karachi Strikers pull off thrilling win

KARACHI: Karachi Strikers held their nerves to seal a one-wicket victory over C Square Pythons CC in the inaugural match of second Corporate Twenty-20 Colour-kit Cricket Tournament at the Arabian Sea Country Club Ground on Sunday.

Batting first, C Square Pythons CC posted 124-7 with Mohammad Osama making a 28-ball 38 and Khurram Kamran 25 off 19 balls.

Medium-pacer Haider Ali grabbed three wickets for 27 runs.

Karachi Strikers reached their target by collecting 128-9 in 18.5 overs on the back of a superb knock of 68 from 52 deliveries (eight fours and two sixes) by left-handed opener Anas Paracha.

Paceman Syed Mustafa Ahmed finished with excellent figures of 4-38.

Summarised scores:

C SQUARE PYTHONS CC.124-7 in 20 overs (Mohammad Osama 38, Khurram Kamran 25, Abdul Rafay 21; Haider Ali 3-27, Sadin 2-7, Mubashir 2-21); KARACHI STRIKERS 128-9 in 18.5 overs (Anas Paracha 68; Syed Mustafa Ahmed 4-38, Abdul Rafay 2-28).

Published in Dawn, September 29th, 2020