Deaf Reach golf event concludes

Jubilee Life 1 and Touchpoint won the gross and net team titles, respectively, at the Deaf Reach Schools Charity Golf Tournament held at the Defence Authority Country and Golf Club on Sunday.

Jubilee Life 1, comprising Ibrahim Khan, Jameel Khan, Nasir Khan and Hamza Zahid Khan, claimed the gross title with a score of 58.

Touchpoint, represented by Salman Ali, Tabish Sabah, Imran Haroon and Syed Saquib Zafar, lifted the net competition with a score of 54.

HMB 1 finished runner-up in the gross category with 59, while A Qadir and Company placed third with 61. King Apparel secured second place in the net category with 55.9, followed by Mediplas with 56.2.

In the subsidiary prizes, Hamza Shikoh Khan won nearest to the pin on hole seven, while Ayhan Azeem took the honour on hole 17. Jawad Amjad recorded the longest drive on hole 13 at 359 yards, while Bilal Nasim won the longest-drive prize on hole 15 with 346 yards. 

The tournament, powered by Mavericks, attracted more than 120 golfers and raised Rs42 million for Deaf Reach's education and development programmes for deaf children and young people across Pakistan.

Played in the Texas Scramble format, the annual event brought together members of the golfing community to compete for honours while supporting access to education and vocational training for the country's deaf community.

A Suzuki Fronx was offered as the prize for a hole-in-one, adding another incentive for competitors on the course.

“It was truly a team effort, and I'm delighted that we were able to help raise Rs42 million for such a worthwhile cause,” said Abdullah Nasser, captain of Mavericks.

“The response from the golfing community, sponsors and everyone who contributed has been tremendous. The real achievement is knowing that these funds will help create more opportunities for deaf children and young people in Pakistan,” he added.

Deaf Reach, a programme of the Family Educational Services Foundation (FESF), has been working since 1989 to improve access to education for underserved deaf children and young people.

Its network of schools, colleges and training centres provides academic education, Pakistan Sign Language-based instruction, information technology education and vocational skills training. The organisation also supports teacher development, parent training, employment opportunities and the development of digital learning resources in Pakistan Sign Language.

Richard Geary, founder of Deaf Reach, said events such as the tournament demonstrated how collective support could help broaden educational opportunities for deaf children.

“Every contribution helps us extend access to education, skills and opportunities, enabling more young people to realise their potential,” he said.