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  • Bahawalpur Police deny rumours: Samiullah Khan statue intact

    Bahawalpur Police deny rumours: Samiullah Khan statue intact

    Bahawalpur Police, in a tweet, clarified that the statue of hockey legend Samiullah Khan is intact, stating that the police checked it after rumours started circulating on social media about its hockey stick, ball getting stolen again.

    A video on social media shows that the hockey stick and ball were missing, again.

    Prior to this, the police arrested a suspect for stealing the items from the statue. The theft occurred less than two weeks after the statue of hockey player Samiullah was set up at a crossing to honour him.

    However, after that incident, the administration restored the statue to its original condition.

    Khan, now 69, is a former and veteran hockey player. He made Pakistan proud at the international level, winning a bronze medal in the 1976 Summer Olympics and a gold medal in Asian Games 1978, 1982.

  • Notable personalities laud Talha Talib for his unbeatable Olympics debut

    Notable personalities laud Talha Talib for his unbeatable Olympics debut

    Weightlifter Talha Talib has finished fifth in the 67 kilograms (KG) weightlifting competition of the Tokyo Olympics 2020 and Pakistanis lauded the debutant for his efforts.

    Read More – Pakistani athletes participating in Tokyo Olympics

    The 21-year-old Talha was just two points short of gaining an Olympic medal for Pakistan after 29 years.

    The Gujranwala-born, who was on his Olympics’ debut, finished with a total of 320 points as he broke his own national record by lifting 150 kg in snatch while he lifted 170 kg in clean and jerk.

    China’s Chen Lijun bagged gold while Colombia’s Luis Javier Mosquera and Italy’s Mirko Zanni clinched silver and bronze medals respectively.

    Many notable people, including politicians, cricketers, and celebrities lauded the 21-year-old for his efforts.

    https://twitter.com/76Shadabkhan/status/1419280792497311747?s=20

    Thanking everyone, the Olympian turned to his social media and wrote: “Alhamdulillah! Thank you everyone for your support and your love. In Sha Allah next time it will be better. Remember me in your prayers Special thanks to my father, my family, my coach Naveed Aslam Malik (late), and Pakistan Weightlifting Federation.”

  • ‘Where’s my miyan?’ Sarfaraz’s wife asks PCB

    ‘Where’s my miyan?’ Sarfaraz’s wife asks PCB

    The Pakistan cricket team, ahead of the start of their training for the T20I series against West Indies, spent some time at a beach resort, photos of which were shared on social media.

    The photos did not include any of Sarfaraz Ahmed, which led to an amusing exchange between his wife and the Pakistan Cricket Board.

    In the photos shared on PCB’s Twitter account, pacer Hasan Ali, all-rounder Faheem Ashraf, and other players could be seen having a good time. Sarfaraz Ahmed was nowhere to be seen.

    At this, his wife Khushbakht Sarfaraz asked: “Where’s my miyan (husband)?”

    Responding to Khushbakht’s question, PCB shared a photo of Sarfaraz, where the former skipper could be seen coming out of the sea, wearing light blue shorts and a red vest.

  • Two Syrian brothers hug while competing on opposing sides at Tokyo Olympics

    Two Syrian brothers hug while competing on opposing sides at Tokyo Olympics

    Two Syrian refugee brothers have met on the sidelines of the Tokyo Olympics, with one representing the refugee team and the other representing the official Syrian team.

    According to details, Alaa Maso, from the Refugee Olympic Team, was photographed hugging his brother Mohamed Maso as they both prepared to compete in the international tournament that opened on Friday.

    Both brothers are originally from the city of Aleppo and now live in Germany. Their father was a swimming coach, a sport which Alaa took up, while Mohamed took up the triathlon.

    According to his profile on the International Olympic Committee website, Alaa left Syria in 2015 after his training facilities were damaged during the fighting that first engulfed the country in 2011. He resettled in Germany and took up swimming again.

    During the competition, he is swimming alongside another Syrian refugee swimmer, Yusra Mardini, who he has known since childhood.

    Mohamed also left for Europe in 2015 after the war began to threaten his safety, writing on his website that “even after days of walking and being tired arriving at a refugee center, he would put on his running shoes and run”.

    Netizens are praising the two brothers hugging at the ceremony on social media.

  • Pakistani athletes participating in Tokyo Olympics

    Pakistani athletes participating in Tokyo Olympics

    Pakistan athletes would be competing in 200 metre Athletics, Badminton – Women Singles, Judo – 100 Kg, Shooting – 10 metre Air Pistol, Swimming 100-metre Freestyle Men’s and 50 metre Women’s, and 67kg Weightlifting.

    Pakistan’s last Olympics medal was the bronze the national hockey team achieved in the 1992 Barcelona Olympics. The last individual medal was the bronze grabbed by boxer Hussain Shah in the 1988 Seoul Olympics.

    Pakistan Tokyo Olympics contingent (athletes):

    Arshad Nadeem – Javelin Throw

    Bisma Khan — Swimming 50 metre Freestyle women

    Ghulam Mustafa Bashir — Rapid Fire Pistol 25 metre

    Gulfam Joseph — Shooting 10 metre Air Pistol

    Mahoor Shahzad — Badminton Women’s Singles

    Muhammad Khalil Akhtar — Rapid Fire Pistol 25 metre

    Najma Parveen — Athletics 200 metres

    Shah Hussain Shah — Judo 100 Kg

    Syed Muhammad Haseeb Khan — Swimming 100 metre Freestyle Men’s

    Talha Talib — Weightlifting 67kg

  • Pakistan cricketers extend best wishes to Tokyo Olympics contingent

    Pakistan cricketers extend best wishes to Tokyo Olympics contingent

    Pakistani cricketers have extended best wishes to the national contingent taking part in the Tokyo Olympics.

    The quadrennial sporting extravaganza, initially scheduled for summer 2020, started on Friday with an opening ceremony without spectators due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

    Faheem Ashraf, Fakhar Zaman, Hasan Ali, Mohammad Hasnain, Sarfaraz Ahmed, Shadab Khan, and Shaheen Shah Afridi and women team’s all-rounders Aliya Riaz and Nida Dar gave their encouragement and support to their fellow national athletes who would be vying for glory in nine different events.

    The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) released a video with messages of the seven men and two women players.

    Wishing good luck to the Tokyo Olympics contingent, all-rounder Aliya Riaz said: “Please enjoy yourself and give it your best shot; we are all behind you.”

    All-rounder Nida Dar said she was rooting for Pakistani athletes as it was a big occasion for them and vowed to give them all the support they needed.

    “I am backing the Pakistan Tokyo Olympics contingent to do well in the biggest sporting extravaganza. It is a big occasion for these athletes; we would be giving them all the support they need and would follow their progress,” she said.

    Especially wishing Mahoor Shahzad, Bisma Khan, and Arshad Nadeem the best of luck, former skipper Sarfaraz Ahmed hoped the athletes would bring glory to the country.

    “I want to wish Pakistan’s Tokyo Olympics contingent the very best. My best wishes are with all the athletes, especially Mahoor Shahzad, Bisma Khan, and Arshad Nadeem. I am sure you all will give it your best to bring glory to the country,” Sarfaraz said.

    Shadab Khan, expressing his support, said: “My best wishes are with all the athletes who are representing Pakistan in the Tokyo Olympics. Go well.”

    “Good luck to the entire Pakistan Tokyo Olympics contingent, especially Shah Hussain and Talha Talib,” pacer Shaheen Shah Afridi said.

    Wishing the best for the athletes, Faheem Ashraf said: “My best wishes are with Pakistani athletes competing in the Tokyo Olympics. Good luck and go well.”

    Batsman Fakhar Zaman said: “I want to wish the very best to Pakistan’s Tokyo Olympics contingent, especially Mahoor Shahzad and Najma Parveen.”

    Asking the players to enjoy themselves while they are out there and assuring that the whole country was backing them, Hasan Ali expressed his confidence in the contingent.

    “My best wishes are with our Tokyo Olympics contingent. Please […] enjoy yourself and give your best. The entire country is backing you,” he said.

    Meanwhile, Mohammad Hasnain added: “My best wishes are with the athletes and officials representing Pakistan in the Tokyo Olympics, especially Arshad Nadeem and Bisma Khan.”

    Pakistan athletes would be competing in 200 metre Athletics, Badminton – Women Singles, Judo – 100 Kg, Shooting – 10 metre Air Pistol, Swimming 100 metre Freestyle Men’s and 50 metre Women’s, and 67kg Weightlifting.

    Pakistan’s last Olympics medal was the bronze the national hockey team achieved in the 1992 Barcelona Olympics. The last individual medal was the bronze grabbed by boxer Hussain Shah in the 1988 Seoul Olympics.

    Pakistan Tokyo Olympics contingent (athletes):

    Arshad Nadeem – Javelin Throw

    Bisma Khan — Swimming 50 metre Freestyle women

    Ghulam Mustafa Bashir — Rapid Fire Pistol 25 metre

    Gulfam Joseph — Shooting 10 metre Air Pistol

    Mahoor Shahzad — Badminton Women’s Singles

    Muhammad Khalil Akhtar — Rapid Fire Pistol 25 metre

    Najma Parveen — Athletics 200 metres

    Shah Hussain Shah — Judo 100 Kg

    Syed Muhammad Haseeb Khan — Swimming 100 metre Freestyle Men’s

    Talha Talib — Weightlifting 67kg

  • Tokyo 2020 chief doesn’t rule out the cancellation of Olympic Games

    Tokyo 2020 chief doesn’t rule out the cancellation of Olympic Games

    The Tokyo 2020 chief Toshiro Muto did not rule out the cancellation of Olympic Games.

    As per details, the chief of the Tokyo 2020 organising committee on Tuesday did not rule out a last-minute cancellation of the Olympics, as more athletes tested positive for Covid-19 and major sponsors ditched plans to attend Friday’s opening ceremony.

    Asked at a news conference if the global sporting showpiece might still be cancelled, Muto said he would keep an eye on infection numbers and liaise with other organisers if necessary.

    “We can’t predict what will happen with the number of coronavirus cases. So we will continue discussions if there is a spike in cases,” said Muto.

    “We have agreed that based on the coronavirus situation, we will convene five-party talks again. At this point, the coronavirus cases may rise or fall, so we will think about what we should do when the situation arises.”
    Covid-19 cases are rising in Tokyo and the Games, postponed last year because of the pandemic, will be held without spectators. Japan this month decided that participants would compete in empty venues to minimise health risks.

    There have been 67 cases of Covid-19 infections in Japan among those accredited for the Games since July 1, when many athletes and officials started arriving, organisers said on Tuesday.

    Japan, whose vaccination programme has lagged behind that of most other developed nations, has recorded more than 840,000 cases and 15,055 deaths and Games host city Tokyo is experiencing a fresh surge, with 1,387 cases recorded on Tuesday.

    Muto, a former top financial bureaucrat with close ties to Japan’s ruling party, is known for his careful choice of words, while officials are facing a domestic public angry about coronavirus restrictions and concerned over a possible spike in cases triggered by Games attendees arriving from abroad.

    Organisers, for whom International Olympic Committee (IOC) President Thomas Bach said cancelling the event had never been an option, have promised to keep the Games “safe and secure”.

    But experts see gaps in an Olympic “bubble” that mandates frequent testing and has been designed to limit participants’ movements.

    Seiko Hashimoto, who sits alongside Muto as organising committee President, said that safety measures introduced to reassure the Japanese public had not necessarily done so, and that she was aware that popular support for the Games had dropped.

    “I really want to apologise from my heart for the accumulation of frustrations and concerns that the public has been feeling towards the Olympics,” Hashimoto told the same news conference.

    ‘Unprecedented challenges’

    The first major test of how an Olympics can be held in the midst of a pandemic may well come in the men’s soccer tournament, when Japan face a South Africa side that could struggle to field 11 players due to the coronavirus.
    That match is due to take place on Thursday, a day before an opening ceremony that top sponsor Panasonic as well as Fujitsu and NEC Corp will skip. Toyota Motor dropped all TV ads linked to the Games on Monday.

    Bach, who Kyodo news agency said would meet Japan’s Emperor Naruhito on Thursday, said on Tuesday organisers could never have imagined the “unprecedented challenges” of bringing the global event to Tokyo, praising the “heroic efforts” of medical personnel and volunteers around the world amid the pandemic.
    Two members of Mexico’s Olympic baseball team tested positive for Covid-19 at the team hotel before their departure for Tokyo, the country’s baseball federation said on Tuesday.

    The athletes, Hector Velazquez and Sammy Solis, who tested positive on July 18, have been isolated, as have all team members pending results of more tests, it said.
    Kenji Shibuya, former director of the Institute for Population Health at King’s College London, said that the organisers’ bubble system was already “kind of broken”.
    “My biggest concern is, of course, there will be a cluster of infections in the (athletes’) village or some of the accommodation and interaction with local people,” he added.

    Organising committee President Hashimoto said members of the public were concerned “because they feel that the current situation appears to show that the playbooks that were meant to guarantee security is not providing a sense of safety.”

    In a poll in the Asahi newspaper, 68 per cent of respondents expressed doubt about the ability of Olympic organisers to control coronavirus infections, with 55 per cent saying they were opposed to the Games going ahead.

  • Pakistani cricket fan holding Palestinian flag beaten up by guards in second T20

    Pakistani cricket fan holding Palestinian flag beaten up by guards in second T20

    A cricket fan who invaded the pitch during Pakistan’s second T20 against England at Headingley has complained he was beaten very badly by the security guards.

    Speaking to Geo News from the accident and emergency unit of the Oldham Hospital, Muhammad Ayshaam, 25, said he wanted to have fun and get a selfie with the closest player Adil Rashid when storming the pitch towards the end of the match.

    Live scenes showed Ayshaam storming the pitch by dodging at least five security guards on his way, making it straight to Rashid, pausing there for three seconds to attempt a selfie and then running back to the stands, successfully dodging the security men chasing to get hold of him.

    Thousands of cricket fans cheered and clapped as Ayshaam flipped his way back to the crowd and ran up the stands to melt into the crowd, while the security men continued their chase.

    But Ayshaam, who works in a warehouse and was carrying a “free Palestine” flag with him when invading the pitch, says he was beaten “very badly” by the security guards. As he was running out, an English fan stuck his leg out to drop him and then two Pakistani security guards tried to grab him and Ayshaam dodged them too.
    Then four to five security guards chased him and one of them tackled Ayshaam on the ground.

    “I fell on the concrete with full force. I have deep cuts on [my] left elbow and on both hands. I couldn’t stand when they tripped and pushed me. They also dragged me even when I requested to sit down on [the] floor. My left foot was in so much pain. I couldn’t stand and they carried on dragging and pushing me,” he said while talking to Geo News.

    The English Cricket Board (ECB) and other sporting managements have declared that invading pitches by fans is unacceptable and those involved in anti-social behaviour will be dealt with the full force of regulations and laws.

    Meanwhile, Pakistan will face England today (Tuesday) in the final T20 of the three-match series.

  • ‘What’ve we won before or after 2017 CT?’: Kamran Akmal slams Pakistan’s cricketing policies after whitewash by England

    ‘What’ve we won before or after 2017 CT?’: Kamran Akmal slams Pakistan’s cricketing policies after whitewash by England

    Wicketkeeper-batsman Kamran Akmal has slammed the former coaches for the present scenario of the Pakistan cricket team. His statement came after Babar Azam-led Pakistan was whitewashed after losing the last match to England by 7 wickets.

    Ben Stokes-led England, which featured mostly inexperienced players as the regulars were isolated due to the Covid-19 outbreak, trashed the visiting party in all the three ODIs. After the humiliating series loss, the Pakistan team has been receiving flak from several former cricketers of the country for getting hammered by a second-string team.

    In a conversation with paktv.tv, Akmal heaped praise on England’s cricketing system for setting up an example of how to form a team in adverse conditions.

    “The biggest plus point of England cricket is their system. The players they selected for the series didn’t show a single sign of nervousness, neither did they hit the panic button. They didn’t even complain about the absence of regulars who were in isolation, because they have that kind of confidence,” Akmal said.

    “All the players have played in domestic cricket hence; they handled the pressure well and played with planning. They passed a message to the world how a cricket team should be made and what should be the selection criteria,” he added.

    Akmal further pointed out that the damage was done to the team during the tenure of former coaches and the same old policies of the governing body has hampered Pakistan’s cricketing environment.

    “If you have two coaches of similar types, then that will cause problems. Coaches have the biggest role in constituting a team. Did the last two Pakistan coaches improve the team? They started all this and now the current management is facing flak.

    “The players need to play cricket more and more. They need to spend more time on the ground. They need to focus on every format but unfortunately, T20 is getting more attention. Their lies the problem,” Akmal said.

    “Vicky Bhai [Waqar Younis] was the head coach earlier and then there was Mickey Arthur. What have we won after or before the 2017 Champions Trophy? We were number one in T20Is and in Tests just for a month. But what about India who has been on the top for five years?” he added.

    Pakistan will take on England in a three-match T20I series starting from today (Friday).

  • NCOC responds to cricketer Junaid Khan’s tweets about Covid vaccine shortage

    NCOC responds to cricketer Junaid Khan’s tweets about Covid vaccine shortage

    The National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC), reacting to Pakistani cricketer Junaid Khan’s concerns about the non-availability of Covid-19 in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), said that there is no shortage of vaccine in the province.

    In a couple of tweets, the KP-based pacer said that the government has made it mandatory for tourists to get vaccine before visiting northern areas, but the dosses “are not even available”.

    “Joke of the day! @Asad_Umar says Covid vaccine is a must for tourists in KPK and Gilgit Biltistan but first @ShahramKTarakai @AsadQaiserPTI and Asad Umar need to know that the vaccination they are making compulsory are not even available,” he wrote.

    Junaid said that the district administration of Mardan and Bunair had confirmed the situation.

    “No vaccine is available. Those that have taken their first dose more than 6/7 weeks ago are still waiting for their second dose. If they are not available where will people get vaccinated from?” he added.

    Responding to the cricketer, NCOC said more than one million doses are available across KP, backed by an efficient supply and management system.

    “In Buner, Swabi and Mardan, the minimum stock level of 30,000 doses each is being maintained, which is recouped from Provincial Stores based on the daily consumption rate,” the national Covid-19 monitoring body said.

    Meanwhile, Pakistan has paced up its inoculation drive. More than half a million doses were administered on Monday in the country.