KARACHI: Karate queen Kulsoom Hazara won the SJAS gold medal 2020 award while Dr MA Shah gold medal was awarded to brilliant sports journalist Waheed Khan, veteran athletics coach Mohammad Talib was awarded lifetime achievement award and Haider Hussain bagged the best sports organiser’s award at the annual “Sports Journalists & Rashid Siddiqui Talent Award” ceremony organised by Sports Journalists Association of Sindh (SJAS) at the Scouts Headquarters auditorium, on Thursday.

Addressing the occasion, adviser to Chief Minister Sindh on Law, Costal Highway Development, Environment and provincial spokesperson, Barrister Murtaza Wahab said that talent’s appreciation is its real success. He lauded the efforts of the Sports Journalists Association of Sindh (SJAS) for the betterment and acknowledgement of sports journalists.

SJAS’ patron Dr Junaid Ali Ali, president Muhammad Asif Khan and Secretary General Muhammad Asghar Azeem presented honorary SJAS membership to Barrister Murtaza Wahab on the occasion.

Barrister Murtaza Wahab lauds association’s efforts for journalists

Former captain Moin Khan, former provincial sports minister Dr Junaid Ali Shah, former member PCB’s Board of Governors Ejaz Farooqi and President Federal Union of Journalists GM Jamali offered their condolences to the families of those journalists who lost their lives in Covid-19 and urged the Sindh government to adopt measures for the safety and insurance of the deprived families.

Seven prominent athletes were presented with “Rashid Siddiqui Talent award” for prominent performances at the junior level including Amir Ali (U19 Cricketer), Maaz Khan (Wushu), Marium Rafiq (Judo), Amna Ghayas (Captain, U12 Football), Shahzeb Khan (captain Karachi Hockey team), Azam Khan (cricketer) and Akif Ali (Taekwando).

First Hub Jeep rally woman driver Tushna Patel, Pakistan’s number one badminton player Mahoor Shehzad, international photographer Nasir Abdullah, senior sport journalist (PTV) Saifur Rehman and cricket encyclopaedia Sohail Khan were given special SJAS awards.

Other awards included best anchor (National) Abdul Ghaffar, best anchor (regional) Mujahid Solangi, Best anchor (emerging) Mohsin Mehdi, Best sports editor (English) Rishad Mehmood, best sports editor (Urdu) Mansoor Ali Baig, best senior reporter (electronic media) Faizan Lakhani, best senior reporter (Urdu, print) Tariq Aslam, best reporter (English, print) Umaid Wasim, best emerging reporter Muhammad Osama, best script writer Irshad Ali, best digital media producer award was presented to Shahzeb Ali Bhutto while Muhammad Asif Khan secured the award for outstanding performance.

Published in Dawn, September 26th, 2020