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Express Tribune
a day ago
- Politics
- Express Tribune
PSB disputes Netball federation's 'first position' claim, demands explanation
Members of Pakistan girls netball team pose with their medals along with PNF Chairman Mudassar Arain after winning the Asian Youth Girls Netball Championship in Jeonju-si, South Korea on Friday. PHOTO: PNF Listen to article The Pakistan Sports Board (PSB) has taken strong exception to what it termed a 'misleading' claim by the Pakistan Netball Federation (PNF) that the national youth girls' team secured first position at the Asian Youth Netball Championship 2025 in South Korea, seeking a written explanation within three days and warning that failure to respond could lead to further action. In an official letter issued on Sunday, the PSB referred to a communication from the PNF dated July 9, 2025, in which the federation claimed a first-place finish. The PSB stated that the wording of the letter appeared to imply a gold medal victory, potentially creating a misleading impression of the team's performance. The Board further noted that PNF Chairman Mudassar Razzaq Arain reinforced this narrative in televised interviews, explicitly referring to a 'gold medal' win and thanking senior government officials for their recognition. A viral clip of one such interview was also cited in the notice. Read More: Pakistan wins Asian Youth Girls Netball Championship by beating Maldives According to the PSB, the claim was subsequently used by the federation to apply for cash rewards under the 2024 Cash Award Policy, prompting official commendation and recognition at government level. The PSB has instructed the Netball Federation to submit a detailed written explanation within three days. It warned that failure to comply would result in the matter being escalated to the relevant authorities for further action. Copies of the notice have been dispatched to the federal ministers concerned, the Chairman of the Prime Minister's Youth Programme, the Secretary of the Ministry of Inter-Provincial Coordination, and the President of the Pakistan Olympic Association. In response to the controversy, PNF Chairman Mudassar Razzaq Arain released a video statement in which he said the Sports Board may have misunderstood the situation. He maintained that the President of Asian Netball personally awarded medals to the Pakistani team for securing first position in their respective category, and clarified that the PSB had not extended any financial support for the team's participation in the event. Also Read: Netball victory Arain suggested that the Board may have been offended by one of his earlier remarks, using it as a pretext to issue the explanatory notice. 'We will soon hold a press conference to present all the facts,' he said. Pakistan capped an unbeaten run last week to win the Asian Youth Girls Netball Championship, defeating the Maldives 60-35 in the Plate Group final. Shabash 👏🏻 Pakistan 🇵🇰 wins the Asian Youth Girls Netball Championship 2025. A proud moment for the entire nation and yet another great milestone for 🇵🇰women in sports! Special appreciation for staying undefeated throughout the tournament! Very well played! — Shehbaz Sharif (@CMShehbaz) July 4, 2025 Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif also congratulated the team on their victory, terming it a proud moment for the nation and a significant milestone for women in sports. It must be mentioned here that the PSB had disbursed sizeable grants to 22 sports federation earlier this month but chose to snub the PNF for reasons best known to it.
Express Tribune
05-07-2025
- Sport
- Express Tribune
Pak outplay Maldives, lift Asian Netball title
Members of Pakistan girls netball team pose with their medals along with PNF Chairman Mudassar Arain after winning the Asian Youth Girls Netball Championship in Jeonju-si, South Korea on Friday. PHOTO: PNF Pakistan girls netball team put up yet another brilliant show in the final on Friday to outclass Maldives by 60-35 goals and win the prestigious Asian Youth Girls Netball Championship-2025 at Jeonju Hwasan Gymnasium in Jeonju-si, South Korea. Unbeaten throughout this competitive tournament, the Pakistan team received a huge boost when Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, in his wonderful message on Friday, praised the girls for their fabulous win. "Shabash! Pakistan wins the Asian Youth Girls Netball Championship 2025," the PM tweeted on Friday. "A proud moment for the entire nation and yet another great milestone for Pakistan women in sports! Special appreciation for staying undefeated throughout the tournament! Very Well Played!" said the PM his message. On Thursday evening, too, the PM had sent a morale-boosting message to the Pakistan netball team, wishing them the best of luck for the final. "I wish Pakistan Youth Netball Team, proudly represented by our talented daughters, the very best of luck for the final tomorrow in the Asian Netball Championship in South Korea. Jeetay ga Pakistan!" the PM had said in his uplifting message. Pakistan team took the court with a vengeance on Friday against Maldives who had posed stiff opposition to the winners in the group match earlier this week. However, in the final, the Maldives girls netball team had no answer to the agile Pakistan outfit who dominated the game throughout with their aggressive and skillful display. Pakistan's outstanding players in the final were Leya Raza Shah, Alisha Naveed, Sumayya Kouser, Haleema, Jasmine Farooq, Sumayya, Alina, Amani, Parisa and Farah Rasheed who never allowed the opposition to find its feet during the match. Chairman, Pakistan Netball Federation, Mudassar Arain, President, Sameen Malik and Secretary General, Muhammad Riaz congratulated the Pakistan team on winning the prestigious championship. Chairman PNF Mudassar Arain, in an exclusive chat with The Express Tribune after the final, lauded the brilliant efforts of the national girls netball team and said the they have done the nation proud by lifting the Asian Youth Girls Netball title. "I am a delighted man today, as I am sure all the Pakistanis are on this tremendous victory by our girls netball team," said Mudassar. "I want to offer my heartfelt thanks to PM Shehbaz Sharif for his big support and morale-boosting message for the national team." "It has been an unbelievable performance from the girls who stayed unbeaten throughout the tough tournament, defeating strong teams like hosts South Korea, Japan and Maldives," he said. Mudassar also offered special thanks to Pakistan team's British coach Amanda Newton, who is a former England captain and a Commonwealth Games and World Cup gold medallist, for providing amazing training sessions and preparations to the Pakistan players in the build-up to this high-profile tournament. "A big thanks to team coach Amanda who worked very hard with our players and did a fantastic training job which has paid handsomely here in this event," said the PNF Chairman. "The PNF has always made efforts to pick talent from the grassroot level and train the netball players by providing them best facilities and giving them good exposure," said Mudassar. The Pakistan Sports Board (PSB) must now take note of this superlative show by the Pakistan girls netball team in the Asian event and is required to release immediate grant to PNF so that the federation could carry on with its sincere and untiring efforts in maintaining Pakistan's winning record in the sport of netball. It must be mentioned here that the PSB had disbursed sizeable grants to 22 sports federation last week but chose to snub the PNF for reasons best known to it.
