Sindh clinch men, women titles of national netball championship

Students of IOJ&K unable to participate in the sporting event due to Indian occupation, says Altaf Bhat

ISLAMABAD: Sindh clinched both men and women titles of the Inter Provincial Netball Championship being played at the Hamidi Hall of Pakistan Sports Complex in Islamabad on Monday.

Punjab secured 2nd position in both events.

In the men's final, Sindh beat Punjab by 17-15 goals while Gilgit defeated Islamabad by 16-10 goals in the third position match.

In the women's final, Sindh beat Punjab by 13-7 goals while Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa beat Gilgit by 5-2 goals in the 3rd position match.

Six teams took part in the championship including Punjab, Sindh, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Islamabad, Azad Jammu and Kashmir and Gilgit.

PHOTO: EXPRESS

Altaf Ahmed Bhat, a Kashmir rights activist who is also president of the CBR  Employees Housing Society, was the chief guest on the occasion and distributed trophies, medals and certificates to the teams and players.

Speaking on the occasion, Bhat said that he was waiting for the day when teams from Pakistan and Indian Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IO&JK) will play netball matches.

“But it is only possible after the freedom of IO&JK from Indian occupation,” he added.

The disputed Himalayan valley has been under complete lockdown since August last year when Modi-led government revoked its special status besides deploying thousands of additional troops.

Bhat said students in the occupied region wanted to participate in all international games but regretted that Indian occupation was a major hurdle in doing so.

(With additional input from APP)