Pakistani people support success for China’s bidding for 2022 Winter Olympics KARACHI—Majority of people of Pa- laysia on July 31, 2015, Jahangir said. skills along with other prominent forkistan support and wish China’s success in bidding to host 2022 Winter Olympics. Muhammad Jahangir Khan, who represented Pakistan along with 20 prominent photographers from around the world has recently returned Karachi after participating at “2015 World Photographers Focusing on Beijing Project”, said Friday. The event was aimed at highlighting the basic facilities in all sphere of life China offers for the mega event. The 2022 Winter Games is a joint bid by Beijing with Zhangjiakou (190 kilometer northwest of Beijing). The IOC will select the host city for the Winter Olympics at the 128th IOC Session in Kuala Lumpur, Ma-
Green House win Pakistan Sweet Home Inter-House Cricket title
If successful in its endeavours, Beijing will have the distinction to be the first city ever to host both the Summer and the Winter Games, said Jahangir, who is also a member of Pakistan Association of Photo Journalist (PAPJ). He said that people still have profound memories of 2008 Beijing Games that showed the world how China has made achievements in all dymension including sports. The visit provided opportunity to photographers from different countries to convey through their lens, the beauty, elegance, history, culture and the modern infrastructure China offers for various games in Beijing. Jahangir said that it was an honour to exhibit his photographic
eign photojournalists. Like every Pakistani he too love China and feel comfort as living like his own country, Jahangir said adding that he saw same sentiments expressed by Chinese people during his interaction with them in Beijing. Speaking about importance of the project, Jahangir Khan expressed confidence that the photographs he and his other colleagues captured will surely show the World the unique blend of modern, traditional and rich cultural values of the China. All the photographers, he said were very enthusiastic to be in Beijing and were confident that Beijing will be successful in getting the opportunity to host the mega sports event.—APP
Naya Nazimabad Ramazan cricket
Ton up Lohar,Adeel bangs sensational knocks in KAAF’s big win
ISLAMABAD: Federal Minister Riaz Hussain Pirzada and Turgat Puyan, Management Director Pak Turk during the Futsal ceremony conducted at Sports Complex in honour of Pakistani Futsal Team.
Futsal team honoured
I SLAMABAD —A ceremony KARACHI—Furqan Lohar blasted a sensa- of 20 overs. Shaaz Sajani after two wickets, was held here at Pakistan
Crisis-hit Bouchard forgets Wimbledon
ton and Adeel Khan slammed a hurri- top-scored for the losers with 47 in 38 balls Sports Complex on Friday in P ESHAWAR —Green House tional cane half century as KAAF Engineers ham- with five boundaries and brace of sixes. honour of Pakistan Futsal B I R M I N G H A M clinched the trophy after defeating White House in the final of the Pakistan Sweet Home Inter-House Cricket Tournament played here at Arbab Niaz Cricket Stadium. Adviser to the Chief Minister Khyber Pakhtunkhwa on Sports Amjad Khan Afridi was the chief guest on this occasion. Director Bait-ul-Mal Zafar Iqbal, District Officer Pakistan Sweet Home Gohar Bashir, Inchage Shaista Shams of Pakistan Sweet Home, Director General Sports Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Captain (Retd) Mian Adil Iqbal, players and large number of kids from the Pakistan Sweet Home were also present. A total of four teams took part in the event organized by Pakistan Sweet Home management only to involve the kids in healthy sports activities, Gohar Bashir said while talking to APP. He said that children of Pakistan Sweet Home have full of talent of all games and that is why the management is providing them due opportunities to these kids to that they could be to excel their hiding talent. Earlier, Green House defeated White House by four wickets. Abdullah Afridi was declared man of the match, Nisar got best bowler award, Muhammad Ayab was declared as best batsman while Adil Afridi got man of the series award and Shami Ullah was given more rising player award. At the end, the chief guest gave away trophies, certificates and cash prizes to the winners, runners-up and those honored with their performances. He also announced Rs. 50,000 for participating players. Director General Sports distributed sports gears among the kids of Pakistan Sweet Home.—APP
mered Acme Technologies by 171 runs in the opening night match of the third Naya Nazimabad Ramadan Cricket Tournament here at the Lawai Cricket Stadium on Thursday night. Opener Lohar lived to his name, by belting 11 boundaries and ten sixes in his 125 off 58 balls while Adeel hoisted a record breaking 13 sixes and one four in his 85 in mere 18 balls as KAAF Engineer piled 306 for the loss of six wickets in their 20 overs, after sent to bat first on 65 meter boundary. Acme Technologies must be cursing themselves for sending KAAF Engineers to bat first as Lohar and Adeel brutely punished their bowlers at will in all parts of the ground in a picturesque hilly background. Acme Technologies in reply were bundled out for 135 on the penultimate ball
Kalimullah caused the main damage in Acme Technologies batting with economical spell of bowling by taking three wickets for nine runs while Arif Yaqoob and Akbar grabbing two wickets apiece. Adeel Khan won the man of the match award stupendous knock. KCCA President Prof. Ejaz Faruqi, who is also member of Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) was the chief guest at the opening ceremony. Director Sports Naya Nazimabad Muhammad Iqbal and Organizing Secretary Azhar Iqbal were also present on the occasion. Summarized scores: KAAF Engineers 306-6 in 20 overs (Furqan Lohar 125, Adeel Khan 85, Aqib Rizvi 68, Shaaz Sajani 2-69) Acme Technologies 135 all out in 19.5 overs (Shaaz Sajani 47, Irafn Shaikh 26, Kalimullah 3-7, Arif Yaqoob 2-19, Akbar 2-25).—APP
Messi’s 100 games of tears but no titles LA SERENA (Chile)—Lionel Messi will play have produced 46 goals. It is an impressive his 100th match for Argentina on Saturday against Jamaica in the Copa America but it will be a century marked by too many tears and no titles. Silverware envy has followed the little genius wherever he goes at the tournament in Chile where he will also celebrate his 28th birthday next week. “I’m very happy to reach this record. Hopefully I can celebrate another victory and once and for all lift a cup,” the Barcelona striker said in an interview published on Thursday by Argentinian daily La Nacion. Messi, Sergio Aguero, Carlos Tevez and the rest of the Argentina squad have been sent across the Andes on a mission to end 22 years without a major title since the country won the Copa America in 1993. His extraordinary debut against Hungary on August 17, 2005 set the scene for an international career in total contrast to his success as a Barcelona player which has seen him win four world player of the year awards, four Champions League titles, seven Spanish league titles and three Copas del Rey. The 18-year-old Messi came on as a second-half substitute against Hungary and a minute later was marching off again after getting a red card for elbowing opposing defender Vilmos Vanczak. Team-mates went into the dressing room at the end and found Messi crying in a corner, Argetinian media reported at the time. Since then, his 99 games for Argentina
return, but pales in comparison to his record of 412 goals in 482 games for Barcelona. Nevertheless, Messi seems certain to eventually go on and beat Javer Zanetti’s record of 145 caps for Argentina and Gabriel Batistuta’s record of 56 goals. Messi won the under-20 World Cup in 2005 and an Olympics football gold at the 2008 Beijing Games. He is now estimated to earn more than $70 million a year but there is no Copa America and no World Cup to his name. Messi was in the Argentinian team beaten by Brazil in the 2007 Copa America final in Venezuela and by Uruguay in the quarter-finals of the 2011 tournament on home soil. In 12 games at the Copa he has scored just three goals. There has been more heartbreak in the World Cup. In 2006, he scored on his World Cup debut in a 6-0 demolition of Serbia and Montenegro. But Argentina were beaten by Germany on penalties in the quarter-finals. In 2010, with Diego Maradona as coach, Argentina were among the favourites but lost again in the quarter-finals, again to Germany. There were more tears for Messi. Last year, Messi scored four goals as Argentina pushed through to the World Cup final in Rio de Janeiro’s Marcana Stadium. But with one foot in the gates of glory, Messi saw Mario Goetze score a 113th-minute winner and Germany again ruined his day.—AFP
CHILE: Argentina’s Lionel Messi dribbles the ball over Uruguay’s Egidio Arevalo Rios during their 2015 Copa America match, in La Serena.
Team. Minister for Inter Provincial Coordination (IPC) Riaz Hussain Pirzada, who was the chief guest, said that the nation was proud of the brilliant performance of the national futsal team. He said that no one could deny the fact that PakTurk was providing quality education to Pakistani youth and also focusing on the sports activities. He said Turkey was just like his home.”Turkish brothers are striving hard for Pakistani youth. We will invite other countries for sports under PakTurk management.” The minister prayed for the national team’s success in future. Earlier, Turgat Puyan, Management Director PakTurk, said that with quality education they were focusing on the sports activities. “In fact sports helps in the character building of the students.” He admired Pakistani youth and said there was huge talent in the youth who could bring good name for the country and nation in future. Besides futsal, PakTurk was also focusing on cricket, volleyball and table tennis and would sponsor Pakistani teams for the international events in future, he added. Director Sports Board, Secretary Sports Board and Chairman Pakistan Football Federation also prayed for the success of the team and awarded players with different prizes.—APP
T20 Cricket League
(United Kingdom)— Eugenie Bouchard slumped to a seventh opening round loss in nine tournaments on Thursday, casting a major doubt over her ability to repeat last year’s run to the Wimbledon final. Bouchard, whose skill and charm wowed the crowds as she went all the way to the final at the world’s oldest tournament last year, was shoved towards a miserable exit at the Birmingham WTA tournament by Kristina Mladenovic.
The world number 43 from France had also overcome Bouchard in straight sets at the French Open three weeks ago. On Thursday, Mladenovic ran out a 6-3, 4-6, 6-0 winner. “I was trying to be more aggressive than I’ve been in the past, so I felt I did that okay in the first and second set,” Bouchard said. “Then I don’t know what happened in the third.” Asked whether she could elaborate on that, the Canadian only emphasised it, saying: “I really don’t know what happened in that set.” She was slightly more forthcoming
when asked how she would describe her feelings, replying: “Every negative adjective you could think of, I would use that. Just very, very frustrated.” When asked whether her frustration had caused her to lose her cool during the match, Bouchard was briefly rescued by a sense of humour. “They told us if we smacked our racquets on the court we would get a huge fine, so perhaps that’s why I tried to keep my cool,” she said. Though six other seeds have so far also failed to make the transition in Birmingham to grass — a surface on which all players play only briefly, and many find difficult — it was hard for Bouchard to find explanations. Unlike some players she has at least played one grass court tournament already -– at den Bosch in The Netherlands -– and as for the annoying 50-minute rain delay mid-match, this helped her regroup, she admitted, helping her to purloin the second set. It might perhaps be possible to point to rhythm and timing on this different surface as especially being in need of attention. However there is no escaping a feeling, after only three wins all year, that her problems may now require psychological as well as technical repairs. Bouchard will now to attempt to do that before competing on the grass at Eastbourne next week. “I’m losing first round every week, so I have a whole week to prepare. It’s a pretty tiring routine,” Bouchard said. “I mean, I don’t know what we’re going to work on. Hopefully stuff that helps me get better.” Asked if she might get a lift by thinking of that career-best run to last year’s Wimbledon final, she replied: “Hasn’t helped me so far, so I don’t know.” Then she added: “I think forgetting about it is the best thing I can do.”— AFP
Peshawar Green, Khalil Gymkhana advance
PSB Summer Training, Coaching Camp concludes
P E S H AWA R — P e s h a w a r Green and Khalil Gymkhana advanced to next round after securing victories against their respective rivals in the 6th Shama Twenty20 Cricket League being played here at Gymkhana ground on Friday. In the first match Gymkhana Stars won the toss and elected to bat first by setting up only 97 runs after playing 15.1 overs all out with Taza Gul made 27 runs, Fazal-e-Haq (14) and Ahmad Shah (13) were the leading contributors. For Peshawar Green Abbas Khan took three wickets, Azam Khan got two wickets, Nizam Shoukat got two wickets and Ali Haider and Aqib Ur Rehman took one wicket each. In reply, Peshawar Green chased the target for the loss of four wickets after playing 16.1 overs of the allotted 20 overs. Sajid Kamran scored 23 runs, Zahid (18), Azam Khan (14) were the contributors. For Gymkhana Stars Muhammad Sabir got two wickets, Salman Khan and Fazal-e-Akbar got one wicket each.—APP
PESHAWAR—Like other parts of the country, the Pakistan Sports Board (PSB) Summer Coaching and Training Camp concluded here at PSB Coaching Center Peshawar with more than 90 boys and girls took part in four different games. Adviser to the Chief Minister Khyber Pakhtunkhwa on Sports Amjad Khan Afridi was the chief guest on this occasion. Director Sports PSB Coaching Center Peshawar Mohib Ullah Khan, coaches of Squash Pervez Iqbal, Mohib Ullah, Table Tennis (Afsar Ali), Athletic (Syed Jaffar Shah and Zafran Afridi), Volleyball (Fazal-e-Rabi), players were also present. Director Sports PSB Coaching Center and former World No. 2 Mohib Ullah Khan while welcoming the chief guest disclosed that as desired by Director General PSB Dr. Akhtar Nawaz Ganjera, they held a month long coaching and training camps under qualified coaches with more than 72 boys and girls took part. He disclosed that two girls Laiba Ahmad and Kanwal and 20 probables in squash, 20 boys in athletics, 20 boys in volleyball and 10, five girls and five boys in table tennis attended the training and coaching camp. He said for this purpose qualified coaches imparted training and coaching to the budding youngsters in volleyball, athletic, table tennis and squash. He said a total of 72 players were part of these summer coaching camp. Mohib Ullah Khan said that the camps have been setup only to provide best available coaching to the budding youngsters. He said for athletic international coach Jaffar Hussain imparted training and coaching to the players while for squash Pervez Iqbal, Shehzad Mohib and Adil imparted training to the 18 boys and two female players while for volleyball Fazali Rabi has nominated as coach and Afsar Ali trained and coach the boys and girls. Speaking on this occasion, Amjad Khan lauded PSB for holding training and coaching camps under qualified coaches on annual basis. He termed it very productive for searching out new talent in various games. He urged upon PSB to establish various games nurseries at grassroots level. He said such camps would be organized in other districts of province.—APP
SG PJF visits National Judo Training Camp at Abbottabad ISLAMABAD—Secretary General of Pakistan Judo Federation, Masood Ahmad visited National Judo Training Camp, continued in collaboration with Pakistan Sports Board and Pakistan Army Sports Directorate, at Abbottabad. As per the request of Pakistan Judo Federation, the National Judo Training shifted from Islamabad to Abbottabad for one month. More than 35 athletes are participating in the camp, said a press release issued here. Pakistan Judo Federation is very grateful to Pakistan Sports Board that on their request they have shifted National Judo Training Camp all over the country for the promotion of Judo in Pakistan. The Secretary General of Pakistan Judo Federation said thatt in August a National Judo Championship would be organised with the collaboration of Pakistan Army Sports Directorate and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Judo Association.—APP