KARACHI: Usman Club comprising young players upset strong Arambagh Club 46-43 in the exciting opening match of the 5th Essa Lab Basketball tournament 2020 at the Arambagh-Abdul Nasir courts on Sunday.

For the winners, the leading scorers were Hasan Iqbal (18 pts), Hamza Khwaja (12 pts) and Faizan (10 pts0.

For the losing side, the main scorer was Hasan Ali (14 pts) while Nofil Ali and Saad Salahuddin scored 10 points each.

Earlier, the tournament was declared open in a fine ceremony by Marium Essa Abdullah, Director Sports Essa Lab, along with Rotary Club Governor Dr Farhan Essa and Additional Commissioner Dr Waqas Roshan.

Marium said in her speech that Essa Lab will continue to support sports events in the city and added that she is keen to see both boys and girls basketball players making the country proud with laurels at international level.

She further said that if the coronavirus situation becomes better in the next few weeks, her organization will also hold a girls basketball tournament here in January.

Dr Farhan also lauded KBBA for holding regular events and said that Rotary Club will also hold a girls basketball tournament next month.

He further announced to support basketball activities in Sindh and Balochistan and to sponsor the KBBA’s annual awards ceremony next month.

Also present on the occasion were PTF vice president Khalid Shamsi, KBBA President Ghulam Mohammad, Amjad Siddiqui of Rotary Club and other sports officials were also present.

Published in Dawn, November 24th, 2020