England win Pakistan Day Bridge Championship
Besides mind game, sports community celebrates March 23 with other events .
With the successful end to the 2014 International Bridge Championship, Pakistan’s future in the mind game looks bright. PHOTO: AYESHA MIR / EXPRESS
KARACHI:
The 2014 Pakistan Day International Bridge Championship concluded on Sunday at the Pearl Continental Hotel with English teams-UK2 and Barmy Army taking away the top two spots in the mega event.
The championship showcased 35 sides in the two-day team event. The local pair of Ghufran Ashraf and Shahab Khan won the Pairs Event with the score of 61.50 on the opening day of the championship, March 21.
This was the first major international event held by the Pakistan Bridge Federation (PBF) since 1998. It featured two teams from the UK, three from China as well as players from Turkey, Jordan and UAE.
In the gruelling 10-round competition, UK2, with top players including Jason Hacket, Justin Hacket, Mike Bell and Alex Hyde, bagged the winner’s prize of $7,000, scoring 162.31 points to clinch the title. The Barmy Army, led by Sandra Penfold, secured second place with 134.56 points.
Meanwhile, local team Talpur finished third with 129 points and Miran concluded the championship in fourth position with 126.44 points.
“The championship has been a good step in opening the door for foreign teams to Pakistan and especially Karachi,” tournament director and PBF official Ahsan Qadir told The Express Tribune. “This event has given exposure to our players at the international level.”
Patriotism with sports
Al Spritza clinched the 2014 Pakistan Day Cup at the Karachi Race Course on Sunday. Pir Pagaro’s horse, with jockey Wasim, took away the prize money of Rs100,000 in the biggest race of the day, while Muraafiqah, with jockey Ashiq Ali, secured second position.
Punter’s Dream, with rider Aki Zakir, secured third place in the handicap race for the imported and Pakistan-bred horses.
In the second race of the day, Hot Man, ridden by Sohail Ahmed, won the Basant Cup.
In hockey, the Sindh Women Association organised a match, which was won by Sindh Colours who defeated Sindh White 4-1. Sukkur players Fazila, Nain Tara scored a goal each, while Karachi’s Iffat netted two goals for her team.
Similarly, the Sindh Sports Board held the Pakistan Day Arm Wrestling Championship where Sinthia Rose was declared Miss Karachi, while Hafeez Niazi took the title of Mr Karachi.
Rose defeated Mehwish Farooqi in the 70kg competition for the gold, while Niyazi outpowered H M Anis in the 100kg competition to claim the title.
In the men’s sepaktakraw competition, Karachi Central defeated Karachi East 15-11, 15-9, 15-6, while in the women’s event, Hyderabad outclassed Karachi East 15-10, 15-4 to clinch the trophy.
Karachi Central also continued their domination in the juniors’ event of the championship that was held by the Sindh Sepaktakraw Association. Central took the title by defeating Karachi South 15-2, 15-11.
Shamoon Masih won the Pakistan Day cycling championship held in Lahore. He covered the 30km road race in 27 minutes and 34 seconds and out-peddled 53 other riders in the competition. Muhammad Umair secured the second spot while Kashif Bari finished third. The Punjab Cycling Association race started from Kalma Chock and ended at Muslim town.
Published in The Express Tribune, March 24th, 2014.
The 2014 Pakistan Day International Bridge Championship concluded on Sunday at the Pearl Continental Hotel with English teams-UK2 and Barmy Army taking away the top two spots in the mega event.
The championship showcased 35 sides in the two-day team event. The local pair of Ghufran Ashraf and Shahab Khan won the Pairs Event with the score of 61.50 on the opening day of the championship, March 21.
This was the first major international event held by the Pakistan Bridge Federation (PBF) since 1998. It featured two teams from the UK, three from China as well as players from Turkey, Jordan and UAE.
In the gruelling 10-round competition, UK2, with top players including Jason Hacket, Justin Hacket, Mike Bell and Alex Hyde, bagged the winner’s prize of $7,000, scoring 162.31 points to clinch the title. The Barmy Army, led by Sandra Penfold, secured second place with 134.56 points.
Meanwhile, local team Talpur finished third with 129 points and Miran concluded the championship in fourth position with 126.44 points.
“The championship has been a good step in opening the door for foreign teams to Pakistan and especially Karachi,” tournament director and PBF official Ahsan Qadir told The Express Tribune. “This event has given exposure to our players at the international level.”
Patriotism with sports
Al Spritza clinched the 2014 Pakistan Day Cup at the Karachi Race Course on Sunday. Pir Pagaro’s horse, with jockey Wasim, took away the prize money of Rs100,000 in the biggest race of the day, while Muraafiqah, with jockey Ashiq Ali, secured second position.
Punter’s Dream, with rider Aki Zakir, secured third place in the handicap race for the imported and Pakistan-bred horses.
In the second race of the day, Hot Man, ridden by Sohail Ahmed, won the Basant Cup.
In hockey, the Sindh Women Association organised a match, which was won by Sindh Colours who defeated Sindh White 4-1. Sukkur players Fazila, Nain Tara scored a goal each, while Karachi’s Iffat netted two goals for her team.
Similarly, the Sindh Sports Board held the Pakistan Day Arm Wrestling Championship where Sinthia Rose was declared Miss Karachi, while Hafeez Niazi took the title of Mr Karachi.
Rose defeated Mehwish Farooqi in the 70kg competition for the gold, while Niyazi outpowered H M Anis in the 100kg competition to claim the title.
In the men’s sepaktakraw competition, Karachi Central defeated Karachi East 15-11, 15-9, 15-6, while in the women’s event, Hyderabad outclassed Karachi East 15-10, 15-4 to clinch the trophy.
Karachi Central also continued their domination in the juniors’ event of the championship that was held by the Sindh Sepaktakraw Association. Central took the title by defeating Karachi South 15-2, 15-11.
Shamoon Masih won the Pakistan Day cycling championship held in Lahore. He covered the 30km road race in 27 minutes and 34 seconds and out-peddled 53 other riders in the competition. Muhammad Umair secured the second spot while Kashif Bari finished third. The Punjab Cycling Association race started from Kalma Chock and ended at Muslim town.
Published in The Express Tribune, March 24th, 2014.