QUETTA: Pakistan Canoe and Kayak Federation (PCKF) has awarded its 2013-2014 National Athlete of the Year award to Mohammad Abu-Bakar Durrani of Pakistan Customs, Quetta for his brilliant and consistent show in the sport.

The Pakistan Canoe and Kayak Federation Player of the Year award is given annually to male and female sprint canoeing athletes who perform best in the canoe and kayak Olympic sports in the country based on obtaining high score of total points achieved in international, national and provincial level canoeing championships.

The PCKF award was launched in 2007 for men and the award was expanded to include female players in 2010.

Abu-Bakar is the youngest winner of this award and is the only player in Pakistan who has won this award eight times in succession in sprint kayak peddling Olympic sports. The junior under-18 Player of the Year award was given to Mohammad Umar Durrani of Hayat Durrani Water Sports Academy Hanna Lake, Quetta.

Top ten male and female canoeing players who were honoured on the day included Mohammad Abu-Bakar Durrani (Pakistan Customs), Farhanullah Khan Kasi (Hayat Durrani Water Sports Academy), Mohammad Shoaib Khilji (Pakistan Customs), Mohammad Waseem (Pakistan Navy), Pervez Khan (Hayat Durrani Water Sports Academy), Kamran Hussain (Islamabad Canoeing Association), Tehmina Mehak, Kashmala Dohthani, Bakhtawar and Arrona Kasi (Hayat Durrani Water Sports Academy).

Commander Southern Command, Lt Gen Mohammad Naseer Khan Janjua was the chief guest at the awards ceremony held at HDWSA Hanna Lake. Also present were Raheela Hameed Khan Durrani, the patron-in-chief, and other dignitaries and officials of Pakistan Canoe and Kayak Federation, Balochistan canoeing, rowing and sailing associations.

Published in Dawn, July 10th, 2015

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