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| July 22, 2005 | Friday | Jumadi-us-Sani 14, 1426 |
Nine nations to compete for CISM golf title
KARACHI, July 21: Hosts Pakistan are tipped to start as one of the favourites when the three-day nine-nation 54 holes 2nd International Military Sports Council (CISM) golf championship tees off at the Karachi Golf Club on July 26. It will be preceded by opening ceremony, draws and practice session on July 25. ‘Playing on home course will certainly give an added advantage to the home golfers alongside strong contenders South Africa and Canada,’ Commander Karachi, Rear Admiral M. Asad Qureshi, who heads the organizing committee, said on Thursday.
Vice-chairman of the committee and Commandant, PNS Bahadur, Commodore M. Asad and chairman, technical committee, Capt. Zafar Mahmood, were also present on the occasion.
US who clinched the ‘team title’ in the inaugural competition held at Jacksonville, Florida, USA, two years back, were not defending their crown this time. Pakistan, it may be mentioned, secured fifth position.
Addressing a press conference Qureshi said hosting of the competition involving 63 golfers from home and abroad.
He said on one hand the event will throw light that the environment in Karachi was conducive and on the other it would promote friendship through sports among the armed forces of competing nations.’ It is need of time to tell the world through sports that we are a peaceful nation,’ he said.
Qureshi, who is also president KGC, gave a brief resume of CISM and the induction of golf in to its fold two years back.
It may be mentioned that this is the third time in the last 14 years Pakistan has been bestowed with the honour of staging CISM competition the previous two being CISM Sea Week held in 1991 and CISM Pentathlon and Sailing in 1996.
Meanwhile, as many as 27 medals will be up for the grabs in three individual and one team event. The competitions were individual, ladies, seniors (over 40) and team championship.
Besides the hosts’, golfers from Canada, Thailand, India, Ireland, Namibia, South Africa, Uganda, and the Netherlands will vie for honours in the event.
Capt. Zafar Mahmood informed that all events will run simultaneously.
He agreed that the championship was not of proper 72 holes but at the same time said the hosts’ plans to suggest CISM officials to make it a 72 holes event next time. Under CISM rules, 54 holes competition, 18 per day, is organized
Meanwhile, Brig Tahir Mahmood will captain six-member Pakistan team in the competition. Other members were Brig Ejaz Ahad, Cdr. Ansar Mahmood, Lt Cdr Shazli Azher, MCPO Tariq Mahmood and Lt. Col Shahid Imtiaz.
Rear Admiral Azher Shamim Anwar, Director General Training, Joint Staff Headquarters, has been named as chef de mission.
The team was picked on the basis of performance in the inter services golf championship held at the same venue in the recent past.
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