Scrabble feat

A teenager from Pakistan has won the World Youth Scrabble Championship held in Sri Lanka. Sixteen-year-old Affan Salman, a 10th grader from Karachi with interest in Computer Sciences, outsmarted players from 136 countries including the likes of the US, Britain, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, India, Sri Lanka, etc. Pakistan's talent in the Game of Words can be gauged from the fact that it won two trophies – one for the 2024 championship title and the other for being the top-ranked team, with four of its players among the top ten.

Time and again, the youth and athletes from Pakistan have proven that there is no shortage of talent in the country. The most recent and the best example is of Arshad Nadeem. No Pakistani had ever imagined in their wildest dreams that he would break the Olympic record in javelin throw. It's time that we moved on from cricket and gave other sports and their athletes their due share. The nation's sporting prowess extends far beyond the cricket field. Despite cricket's dominance in the national consciousness, there exists a vibrant tapestry of talent in various sports that often remains overshadowed. Field hockey was once a crown jewel in Pakistan's sporting achievements, with a legacy that includes winning three Olympic gold medals and numerous Asian Games titles. But sadly, the sport has now been neglected by the authorities. Squash – where legendary Jahangir Khan and Jansher Khan dominated the world stage for decades – also warrants attention. The Pakistani athletic community too is brimming with untapped potential, and needs official support.

Coming back to scrabble, it is hoped that Affan's victory will help the government realise that there is a Pakistan Scrabble Association functioning in the country which needs funds to promote the game and arrange for training and international travel for players.