April 17, 2002	Wednesday	Safar 3, 142

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RAWALPINDI, April 16: Golfers from Bangladesh, Qatar and Sri Lanka will be taking part in the 41st Pakistan Amateur golf championship that opens at the Rawalpindi Golf Course Thursday.

Pakistan had sent out invitations to as many as 11 countries but only three confirmed their entries, Brig Badarul Islam, honorary secretary of the Rawalpindi Golf Club said Tuesday.

He said that Nepal were also keen on attending the championship but because of the existing ban on flights between Pakistan and India they could not afford sending their team through Bangkok.

Dr Aimal Zaman will spearhead Pakistan’s challenge against Sri Lanka for the Jayawardena Trophy with Vaqas Ahmed, a one-plus handicapper and a five time winner of the gross event along with Tariq Mahmood and Shahid Javed would also be involved in this main event Saturday.

Besides an international team match between Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and Qatar on Thursday and Friday, an inter- provincial championship will also take place from April Thursday to Saturday.

Badar said that Balochistan would not be competing due to some unavoidable circumstances with only Punjab, Sindh and NWFP and a Federal capital team contesting the provincial championship.

The ladies event, being organised after a gap of 10 years, will be played over 54 holes instead of the usual 36 holes.

In the individual event, amateur golfers from all over the country, having a handicap of 10 or below, will be seen in action from April Thursday to Sunday.

Two events for juniors will also be held with Class A featuring golfers between ages 15 and 17 having handicap of 11 or below while Class B (age 13 to 14) will be for handicappers 16 and below.