NEWS BRIEF

Published March 27, 2015

Colts triumph in polo match

LAHORE: One goal handicap turned decisive as Colts defeated Dawood Group 4-3 to enter the final of the Spring Cup Polo here on Thursday.

The winners led the first chukker 2-1 mainly due to the handicap. First Dabbo Khan Niazi converted a 30-yard penalty hit to make 2-0 lead but in the dying minute of the first chuker Abdullah Dawood fired a field goal to reduce it to 2-1.

The losing side had levelled the score 3-3 through Shah Shamyl Alam who scored back-to-back goals. But in the third chukker Hayat Mehmood capitalised on a 30-yard penalty-hit to seal the fate of the match, as no score was registered in the fourth chukker.

Meanwhile, five two-chukker matches were also decided with three-goal Asif Yar Tiwana helping Pebble Breaker beat Guard Group 4 ½ -2. Mian Hussain Iftikhar added one goal for the winners who had half goal handicap while Amar Khalid and Ahmad Nawaz Tiwana shared the scoring honours for the losing side.

In the next match, Guard Group earned win thanks to Ahmad Nawaz Tiwana who fired three goals to complete six goals to half goal win against Tip Moor Polo Club, UK. Taimur Ali Malik, Amar Khalid and Fahad Noon added one goal each while the losing side failed to add any goal to their half-goal handicap.

Pebble Breaker also won their second match of the day beating Tip Moor Polo Club, UK 4-2. Colts also crushed Primus Investment 7- 1½ with Dawood Group defeating Primus Investment 2-½.—Sports Reporter

Aqeel cruises into final

KARACHI: Country’s top player Aqeel Khan, as expected, cruised into the men’s singles final with a quick 6-2, 6-2 victory over fourth seed Heera Ashiq in the Modern Club Founder Members National Ranking Tennis Championship at the club’s court on Thursday.

Aqeel is now set to meet the winner of second semi-final to be played between Yasir Khan and M. Abid, in the title clash on Saturday.

Second seed Mohammad Raza Sawani took yet another step forward by cruising into juniors under-18 singles final disposing of third seed Marib Malik 6-4, 6-3 in the first semi-final.

Sara Mansoor and Hania Naveed will be up against each other in the ladies singles final after registering emphatic victories over their opponents. The former justified her credentials by getting the better of Sara Ahmed 6-1, 6-1 while the latter sent Urooj Iltifat packing 6-0, 6-2.

Results:

Men’s singles:

Semi-final: Aqeel Khan bt Heera Ashiq 6-2, 6-2

Juniors under-18 singles:

Semi-final: Mohammad Raza Sawani bt Marib Malik 6-4, 6-3

Boys under-16 singles:

Quarter-finals: Nauman Aftab bt Mohammad Ahmed 6-2. 6-2; Bilal Imran bt Shahzil Malik 6-1, 6-3

Boys under-12 singles:

Quarter-finals: Rayyan Jawad bt Abdullah Khan 6-2, 6-4; Houd Azhar bt Ghufran Faiz 6-0, 6-0; Mohammad Yayha bt Abdullah Ahmedani 6-4, 0-6, 14-12; Ali Dada bt Ibrahim Khan walkover

Semi-finals: Houd Azhar bt Rayyan Jawad 6-3, 6-3; M. Yayha bt Ali Dada 6-1, 6-2

Ladies singles:

Semi-finals: Sara Mansoor bt Sara Ahmed 6-1, 6-1; Hania Naveed bt Urooj Iltifat 6-0, 6-2.

Friday’s fixtures:

Matches start at 2.30pm.—Sports Correspondent

LRCA to take future decisions in general council

LAHORE: The Lahore Regional Cricket Association (LRCA) has decided not to hold any executive committee meeting in future as all decisions will be taken by the general council.

The decision was taken in the LRCA general body meeting which was held here with LRCA president Khawaja Nadeem Ahmad in the chair.

“It was decided that no executive committee meeting will be held in future while all matters will be discussed and finalised in general body meetings whenever required,” a press release issued by the LRCA stated here on Thursday.

It was also decided that the annual fee of clubs, registration and transfer fee of players of all zones will be charged equally in East, North and West Zones in accordance with PCB formulated laws. The general body congratulated all zonal representatives for holding successful leagues in Lahore City.

It was also decided that LRCA will release yearly programme of zonal cricket tournaments which will be held from the month of October to March. Each zone will submit four teams consisting of 15 players each to LRCA on the performance basis of zonal leagues and LRCA will organise trial matches among the teams for final selection of Regional Sr Inter-district 2015-2016.

It was also decided that the LRCA will prepare central data registration programme of all zonal players to avoid dual registration matter.—Sports Reporter

SFP president issues show-cause notice to Lehri

KARACHI: President of the Softball Federation of Pakistan (SFP) Mohammed Saleem Khan has issued show-cause notice to the federation secretary general Haider Lehri for holding unconstitutional elections of the federation in Lahore on March 21.

Lehri has been given seven days to submit his explanation failing which action would be taken against him in accordance with the constitution.

According to a SFP statement here on Thursday, Lehri was charged for violating many clauses of the federation’s constitution including calling the annual general body meeting without permission of the president as required under the Article 13 and failing to provide copy of the minutes of the last general body meeting.

The other charges included failing to convene executive committee’s meeting before holding of the elections as required under the Article 12 (2) of the constitution to decide about the date, venue and appointment of chief election commissioner; serious violation of Article 15 that requires provision of draft copy of the proposed amendments in the constitution and annual audit report.

Besides, Lehri also used dilatory tactics to identify posts on which elections were to be held as well as nomination forms as required by the constitution.—APP

Glasgow, Berlin to host 2018 Euro Sports

LONDON: Track and field and swimming are among the sports that will feature in a new European championships to be held in 2018 in Germany and Scotland.

Rowing, cycling and triathlon will also be part of the European Sports Championships, which will be staged in Berlin and Glasgow in July and August. Golf could also be added to the program in Scotland.

The federations for each sport agreed to coordinate their existing European Championships at the same time of year.

The organisers say “this innovative and cooperative approach brings these six existing European championships together to continue building their prestige”.—AP

Gibson returns as England pace bowling coach

LONDON: Former West Indies paceman Ottis Gibson will return for a second spell as England’s fast bowling coach for next month’s tour of the West Indies, the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) said on Thursday.

Gibson, 46, previously worked with England’s pace attack from 2007-10 before being appointed as West Indies coach.

ECB managing director Paul Downton said the appointment was a short-term one as they seek a replacement for David Saker who will join Big Bash franchise Melbourne Renegades in September.—Reuters

DFA elections

KARACHI: The first phase of the Pakistan Football Federation (PFF) elections was completed on Wednesday when the results of the District Football Association (DFA) polls were announced.

Elections in 85 out of 88 districts were held last Saturday according to FIFA and AFC approved statutes. The list of successful candidates of District Football Associations’ elections is available on the PFF website.—Agencies

Published in Dawn, March 27th, 2015

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