HYDERABAD: Host Hydera­bad beat Sukkur 17-4 in the opening match as the sixth edition of Inter-Divisional Women’s Softball Championship commenced here on Friday under floodlights at Hyderabad Club.

Hyderabad women’s team, displaying superb game, scored 9 and 8 runs respectively in the two innings while Sukkur could manage just 4 and 0 in the its two innings to lose the match.

Mahnoor and Tulsi (3 runs each) were outstanding for Hyderabad while Quratul Ain (2 runs) stood out for Sukkur.

The second match of the day between Karachi and Larkana was still in progress at the time of filing this story.

Earlier, Abid Mehmood Sheikh, CEO Indus Valley Tourism, opened the tournament. He praised sportswomen and said that like any other department of life, women are in no way behind men in sports as well. “Women should also be provided with opportunities to play all sports like men. This tournament will not only promote softball in Hyderabad but it would also popularize the game in the interior Sindh region,” he said.

Sindh Softball Association (SSA) Secretary Zeeshan Merchant on the occasion said that SSA and Softball Federation of Pakistan (SFP) have collaborated to host several tournaments and coaching courses successfully. He added that top performers of this inter-divisional championship will get a chance to represent Sindh in 15th National Softball Championship later this year.

Organizing Committee Chair­man Mohammad Nasir, Secretary Pervaiz Ahmed Sheikh, Coordinator Murad Hussain, Ayesha Irum and others were also present on the occasion.

Published in Dawn, April 27th, 2019