KARACHI: International netball bodies have postponed all netball competitions around the world due to the pandemic outbreak of coronavirus (COVID-19).

Mudassar Arain, the president of Pakistan Netball Federation (PNF), told media on Monday that three major tournaments which were to take place in the next three months have been postponed by sport’s international governing bodies. They include the Asian Women’s Netball Championship, the Asian Men’s Netball Championship and the World Under-15 Girls Netball Championship.

According to details, the Asian Women’s Netball Championship was to be held in South Korea from June 19 to 26 but now it will be staged in December with 12 countries taking part, including Malaysia, Hong Kong, Sri Lanka, Maldives, Singapore, India, Thailand, South Korea, Japan, Chinese Taipei, Pakistan and Brunei.

Mudassar further informed that the Asian Men’s Netball Championship has been put off after it was planned to be held in Singapore from April 29 to May 5.

“Now it will be [staged] in December with Malaysia, Hong Kong, Sri Lanka, Maldives, Singapore, India, Thailand, Pakistan and Brunei taking part,” he said. “The International Girls Under-15 Netball Championship, meanwhile, stays as cancelled after it was scheduled for the Australian city of Melbourne from June 29, to July 5. The [new] dates will be announced later.”

Mudassar further said that the PNF has already postponed all its activities in the country due to the prevailing situation until April 15 on the special instructions of the government and the Pakistan Sports Board.

Published in Dawn, March 31st, 2020