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Express Tribune
3 days 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.
Business Recorder
3 days ago
- Politics
- Business Recorder
PSB seeks explanation over ‘misleading' gold medal claim by Netball Federation
The Pakistan Sports Board (PSB) has sought a written clarification from the Pakistan Netball Federation (PNF) over what it termed as 'misleading claims' regarding the national youth girls team's standing at the Asian Youth Netball Championship 2025 in Jeonju, South Korea. In an official notice issued by the board, the PSB took exception to a PNF letter dated July 9, in which the federation stated the team had secured 'first position' in the tournament. The PSB said this language implied a gold medal win, which does not reflect the actual results of the competition. Further concerns were raised about statements made by PNF Chairman Mudassar Razzaq Arain in televised interviews, where he explicitly referred to a 'gold medal' achievement and thanked government officials for their congratulatory messages. A video clip of one such interview, widely circulated on social media, was cited by the board as contributing to a misleading narrative. According to the PSB, the federation's assertion was also used to apply for financial rewards under the government's 2024 Cash Award Policy — an initiative designed to recognize genuine international sporting achievements. The board cautioned that any misrepresentation of results could undermine the integrity of the policy and future disbursements. The PSB has directed the PNF to submit a detailed written response within three days. Failure to comply, the board warned, could result in the matter being escalated to higher authorities for further action. Copies of the notice have been forwarded to the Ministry of Inter-Provincial Coordination, the Prime Minister's Youth Programme, the Pakistan Olympic Association, and other relevant stakeholders.
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.
Express Tribune
30-06-2025
- Sport
- Express Tribune
Pakistan stun Korea in Asian Youth Netball
Pakistan stamped its authority in netball on Sunday with a stunning win over hosts South Korea by 91-6 goals in the third match of the Asian Youth Girls Netball Championship-2025, being played at Jeonju Hwasan Gymnasium, Jeonju-si, South Korea. Superb skills and confidence was displayed by Pakistan's Leya Raza Shah, Alisha Naveed, Haleema, Sarina Hussain, Jasmine Farooq, Farah Rasheed , Amani, Parisa , Sumayya Ahmed and Alina who never allowed South Korean girls to recover and dominate in the crucial match. This was the national team's third successive win in the mega event after they beat Saudi Arabia and Chinese Taipei on the first two days. The girls are gelling in well during this championship and are showing that they are not less than any net ball team in Asia. The credit for the team's magnificent performance must be given to the Pakistan Netball Federation (PNF) officials and its coaches who have left no stone unturned to train and groom the girls team and provide them with the best of facilities and exposure year after year. However, despite Pakistan netball team's brilliant show in the national and international events for the past many years, it is unfortunate that the Pakistan Sports Board (PSB), which always boasts about its fair policies and transparency, has totally snubbed the PNF while distributing the annual grants to 22 other federations barely a week ago. Chairman, Pakistan Netball Federation, Mudassar Arain, President, Sameen Malik, Secretary General, Muhammad Riaz congratulated the Pakistan team for securing a handsome victory over Korea by a heavy margin of 91-6 goals. Pakistan is placed in Pool- B of this mega event and will play their next match against Japan on Monday (today). Their 5th match in its group will be against Maldives on July 1. Pakistan is on top of Pool-B at the moment.
Express Tribune
28-06-2025
- Sport
- Express Tribune
Pak beat Chinese Taipei in Asian Netball
A view of the Pakistan-Chinese Taipei match in the Asian Youth Netball Championship which was played in Jeonjo, Korea on Saturday. PHOTO: PNF Brilliant Pakistan outplayed strong Chinese Taipei netball team by 56-32 goals in the 2nd match of Asian Youth Girls Netball Championship-2025 at Jeonju Hwasan Gymnasium, Jeonju-si, South Korea. Leya Raza Shah, Alisha Naveed, Summayya Safdar, Haleema, Sarina Hussain, Jasmine Farooq, Farah Rasheed , Amani, Parisa put up outstanding show for Pakistan to hich the Chnese Taipei team had no answer. Chairman, Pakistan Netball Federation, Mudassar Arian, President, Sameen Malik, Secretary General, Muhammad Riaz congratulated Pakistan team for their back to back wins against Saudi Arabia ad Chinese Taipei in the ega event. Pakistan is placed in Pool- B of the event and will play its next match against Korea on Sunday (tomorrow). Later, Pakistan will play its 4th and 5th matches in its group against Japan and Maldives on June 30 and July 1, respectively. Now, Pakistan is at the top of Pool-B . Eleven teams are participating in the championship and divided into two groups; It must be mentioned here that the Pakistan Sports Board (PSB), in a step-motherly treatment towards the sport of netball, has completely ignored the PNF while distributing funds to 22 other sports federations this week. The PNF has neither received an annual nor a special grant this year from the PSB. Pakistan netball teams have been bringing laurels to the country for decades now and have always kept the country's flag high in international events.
