KARACHI: The quest of athletes for the medals and supremacy for the trophy commenced with the opening of the 17th Sindh Games at different venues of the metropolis here on Thursday.

Karachi, which is hosting the Sindh Games for the fifth times since its inception in 1986, had dominated all the previous editions reason being better training facilities and coaches as compared to rural Sindh.

Mostly, the Sindh Games have turned out to be a two-horse race between Kara­chi and Hyderabad like the National Games where Army and Wapda fight for glory, leaving other units far behind.

Hina Rafiq of Hyderabad had the honour of winning the first gold medal of the Games in the women’s shot put, Hyderabad’s chef-de-mission Syed Mohammad Nadeem told Dawn.

Hina threw the metallic iron ball to 8.64 metres to do Hyderabad proud. Her sibling Sana Rafiq bagged the silver (8.31) while Hina Moin of Karachi (8.04) got the bronze.

Karachi, as expcted, have a good start capturing four gold and a silver in men’s and women’s track and field event at the Coaching Centre tartan track.

Mohammad Akram picked up a gold in 800m, Arbab Tanoli seized a gold in 5,000m, Naheedullah clinched gold in shot put while Sherish Qayyum and Ayesha Yaseen won gold and silver in women’s 800 respectively.

In men’s hockey at the Abdul Sattar Edhi Hockey Stadium, Larkana defeated Mirpurkhas 4-3 on penalty shootout after being tied two-all in regulation time.

In another match, Shaheed Benazirabd carved out 2-0 victory over Mirpurkhas.

Meanwhile, participants gave mixed reactions about the boarding and lodging and kits provided to them by the organisers of the games.

“Our athletes can’t sleep last night as there’s no ventilation in hotel room where they have been provided accommodation near the Cantt Station,” complained athletics coach of Shaheed Benazirabad, Abdul Karim.

“Our football team lost 1-4 to Sukkur on Thursday morning as they were unable to play after Wednesday night’s sleeping disorder,” he told Dawn.

Atif Hussain Abbasi, manager of Hyderabad men’s table tennis team complained that their team had left the accommodation provided at a hotel in Lyari as it was very far from their venue – Sindh Sports Board Sports Complex, Nazimabad.

“We’ve made private accomoadtion arrangements in Gulistan-e-Jauhar now,” he added.

Hyderabad’s chef-de-mission Nadeem was delighted after his athletes shone while picking up one gold, two silver and one bronze on the opening day of track and field events.

“If the Sindh Games are held annually, our athletes will give tough fight to Karachi,” he said.

He said the track suits, kits and joggers provided to athletes were of very good quality.

Nadeem, who is also secretary of Hyderabad Athletics Association, said 80 percent work of laying a tartan track at Public School Latifabad have been completed and expected to be commissioned later this year.

He thanked the Sindh government for laying tartan track in Hyderabad.

Commentng on the ongoing Sindh Games he said he had received two cheques of around Rs 2.4 million on account of daily and travelling allowance of participants.

According to details, a player is entited to get Rs 5,600 – six days daily allowance @Rs800 and four days travelling allowance @200.

Results:

Athletics:

Men’s:

800m: 1-Mohammad Akram (Kar), 2-Hasan (Hyd), 3-Imam (Kar) Time: 02:09.38.

5000m: 1-Arbab Tanoli (Kar), 2-Mohibullah (Sukkur), 3-Ahmed Khan (Hyd) Time: 17:47.69

Shot put: -1Naheedullah (Kar), 2-Tahir Soomro (Lar), 3-Shakil Ahmed (Kar) Dist: 11.41 metres

Women’s:

800m:1-Sehrish Qayyum (Kar), 2-Ayesha Yaseen (Kar), 3-Kiran Khan (Hyd). Time: 02:51.53 secs

Shot put: 1-Hina Rafiq (Hyd), 2-Sana Rafiq (Hyd), 3-Hina Moin (Kar) Dist: 8.64 metres

Hockey (men’s):

Larkana bt Mirpurkhas 4-3 on penalty shootout (2-2 regulation time), Shaheed Benazirabad bt Mirpurkhas 2-0

Softball (women’s):

Karachi bt Shaheed Benazirabad 10-0, Sukkur bt Mirpurkhas 15-6

Football (men’s):

Sukkur bt Shaheed Benazirabad 4-1, Larkana bt Mirpurkhas 1-0.

Published in Dawn, April 20th, 2018