KARACHI: Quaid-i-Azam XI carved out a 31-16 victory over Allama Iqbal XI in an exhibition match that marked the formal inauguration of the National Departmental Basketball Championship at the Arambagh floodlit court on Monday.

The winners led 27-10 at half time.

Asad Imam excelled for the winners and returned with a tally of 13 points. He was assisted by Zain-ul-Abedin six and Warren four respectively.

Sameer, Zobair and Naqqash scored four points apiece for the losers.

At the outset, participating teams attired in their colourful track suits, lined up in the court. Half-a-dozen teams will now fight for the honours instead of seven following last-minute withdrawal of PAF after confirmation.

The competing teams include Army, Navy, Wapda, Police, Railway and POA Wah.

Secretary Sports and Youth Affairs, Sindh, Dr Niaz Ali Abbasi, who graced the occasion, formally inaugurated the event at the colourful opening ceremony.

The Police band was also in attendance.

Speaking on the occasion the provincial secretary sports, assured organisers of allocating funds for constructing two seperate toilets for men’s and women’s players adjacent to the court soon.

It is pertinent to mention that the association had built two washrooms in the yore that were demolished by the city government due to some other construction.

He congratulated the organisers for making befitting arrangements for staging the event and reviving the glorious past.

He expressed optimism that the staging of the event will have a positive impact for revival of peace in the city.

“Participation of armed forces and other prominent outfits in the competition at the historic Arambagh court is an indication that peace has returned in the city, courtesy Sindh Rangers,” he added.

Earlier, the president of Karachi Basketball Association (KBA) Ghulam Mohammad in his speech requested the government official to help construct two washrooms adjacent to the court.

Young gymnast from Hyderabad Ghuslan Ali Siddiqui and a group of martial arts prodigies enthralled the spectators with their outstanding performance.

The secretary of the Pakistan Basketball Federation (PBF) and a former international, Khalid Bashir, who has specially come from Lahore, said top five departments and top three divisions will be eligible to compete in the National Basketball Championship being held at Lahore in January.

According to him, the top three divisions are Lahore, Faisalabad and Peshawar.

Fancied Army will defend its title in the event which they have won by defeating PAF in the final held in 2015. The event could not take place last year.

Tallest Army cager Tughlaq was the focus of attention of spectators for his 7’3” height.

The championship which is being organised by KBA in collaboration with the Sindh Basketball Association and the parent body PBF concludes on Dec nine.

Officials and former basketball players including Abdul Nasir, S. M. Tanveer, Mohammad Azam, Amjad Ali, Mohammad Yaqoob, Yaqoob Qadri, organising secretary Tariq Hussain and Engr Mahfooz-ul-Haq were in attendance among others.

Meanwhile, regular matches of the event will start from Tuesday.

Tuesday’s fixtures:

Army v Navy at 6pm, Wapda v Railways at 7.15pm

Published in Dawn, December 5th, 2017