Muhammad Jawad and Muhammad Saqib Win Gold Medals at GAMMA Asian MMA Championship

Pakistan’s young Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) fighters delivered an outstanding performance at the GAMMA Asian MMA Championship, bringing great pride to the nation.

The prestigious Asian championship featured participation from more than 200 athletes representing 16 countries. Muhammad Jawad Ahmed and Muhammad Saqib achieved remarkable victories in their respective final bouts, winning Gold Medals and earning the honour of becoming the new Asian MMA Champions.

In the Under-16, 54kg category final, Muhammad Jawad Ahmed secured the Gold Medal after defeating Kazakhstan’s strong opponent Zharylkassinov Meirman in a thrilling and highly competitive bout.

Meanwhile, in the Under-18, 56kg category final, Muhammad Saqib displayed exceptional skills, determination, and outstanding fighting spirit to defeat Thailand’s tough opponent Changpan Watcharat, winning the Gold Medal and becoming the Asian Champion.

Muhammad Saqib is also the Gold Medalist of the 2024 GAMMA World MMA Championship. With this latest achievement, he once again proved his exceptional talent and established himself among Asia’s leading young MMA athletes.

President of the Pakistan Mixed Martial Arts Federation, Zulfiqar Ali, congratulated both athletes, the coaching staff, and the entire national team on this historic achievement, stating:

“This is a historic and proud moment for Pakistan. We are extremely proud of our young athletes and coaching staff, whose hard work, dedication, quality training, and strong commitment enabled them to raise Pakistan’s flag at one of Asia’s most prestigious MMA championships.

The achievements of Muhammad Jawad Ahmed and Muhammad Saqib are a matter of great pride for the entire nation.”

He further stated that the future of Mixed Martial Arts in Pakistan is bright, and such outstanding achievements will inspire more young athletes to perform at the international level and bring further glory to the country.

He extended his best wishes to both Asian Champions and the entire Pakistan team for continued success and a bright future.

Congratulations to Pakistan’s new Asian MMA Champions on their remarkable achievement!

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LAHORE: The Punjab Lawn Tennis Association (PLTA) has officially launched the Ali Embroidery Mills High-Performance Tennis Training Camp 2026 at the Punjab Tennis Academy, Bagh-e-Jinnah, Lahore, with the aim of nurturing the province’s most promising tennis talent.

The month-long elite training programme, which began on July 20, will continue until August 20, 2026, bringing together more than 28 of Punjab’s leading junior and senior players for intensive technical, tactical and physical development.

The selected players include Ahtesham Humayun, Asad Zaman, Hamza Ali Rizwan, Abdullah Pirzada, Abdul Rehman, Mustafa Zia, Hadi Ali Rizwan and Zaroon Yaqoob in the men’s category, while the women’s lineup features Hajra Sohail, Bismel Zia, Khadija Khalil, Eesha Rabbi, Shahnoor Umer, Shahreen Umer, Eman Shahbaz, Aiman Rehan, Aleezay Maryam, Hafsa Rana and Wajeeha Fatima.

To provide world-class coaching and fitness support, the PLTA has assembled an experienced team comprising former national player Arif Feroze, former Junior Davis Cup player and ex-Pakistan Junior No. 1 Ahmad Babar, national player Imran Bhatti, and certified fitness trainer Syed Azhar Hussain (IFCA-UK).

The camp’s official opening ceremony held on Thursday at the Punjab Tennis Academy, with Waqar Nisar, an ITF senior player and former national champion, and Col (R) Asif Dar, former Secretary of Pakistan Tennis Federation, attendeded as the the chief guests. The training programme will conclude with a closing ceremony on August 20.

PLTA Senior Executive Vice President Rashid Ahmed Malik, Sitara-e-Imtiaz, praised the camp’s excellent facilities and expressed satisfaction with the commitment and discipline shown by the participating players throughout the training sessions.

In a joint statement, Rashid Malik, Waqar Nisar and Col (R) Asif Dar extended their appreciation to Tariq Zaman, CEO of Ali Embroidery Mills, for his continued financial support and valuable contribution to the promotion and development of tennis in Pakistan.

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Pakistan’s other participant, Yasir Sultan, could not qualify for the final

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s star javelin thrower Arshad Nadeem has qualified for the final round of the javelin throw event at the Glasgow Commonwealth Games after an impressive performance in the qualification stage.

No athlete was able to achieve the automatic qualifying mark of 84 metres during the three-attempt qualification round. As a result, the top 12 athletes advanced to the final based on their best recorded throws.

Arshad Nadeem secured seventh position in the qualification standings with a throw of 78.63 metres, earning his place in the medal-deciding round.

Pakistan’s other participant, Yasir Sultan, could not qualify for the final after finishing 14th with a throw of 74.36 metres.

Among the athletes joining Arshad Nadeem in the final are Bahamas’ Keshav, who recorded 78.60 metres, India’s Rohit Yadav with 78.37 metres, and Yashvir Singh with 78.36 metres.

Trinidad and Tobago’s Walcott also advanced with a throw of 78.26 metres, while Nigeria’s Nnamdi secured qualification with a 75.27-metre effort.

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Trinidad, 30 July 2026: Pakistan Test batter Shan Masood has been ruled out of the second Test against the West Indies after sustaining an injury to the index finger of his left hand during the first Test at the Brian Lara Cricket Academy in Trinidad.

Following a scan and clinical assessment, Shan is currently undergoing treatment from the Pakistan team medical panel.

His availability for the first Test against England starting 19 August at Leeds will depend on his recovery and clinical progress. In the meanwhile, he will remain with the team.

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Green Shirts clinch Central Asian Volleyball Association Championship title

Abdul Jabbar Faisal ; 

ISLAMABAD: Hosts Pakistan outplayed Bangladesh in straight games 3-0 in the final of the Central Asian Volleyball Association (CAVA) Men’s Volleyball Championship 2026 here at the Liaquat Gymnasium, Pakistan Sports Complex on Wednesday. The final score-line was 25-20, 25-16, and 25-20.

In the first set, spikers of both teams started the game aggressively and tried to earn vital points to post a lead on the scoreboard early. The game went neck-and-neck and was even at 7-7. Pakistani players displayed top-quality game and maintained an important lead at 10-7 after scoring back-to-back three points. Hosts won the game at 25-20.

Meanwhile, in the second game, Pakistani enough good to finish the game at 25-16 despite of that the game was leveled at 4-4, 5-5, 8-8, 9-9, and 10-10. Skipper Jehan, Khyzer Hayat and Masawer showed nice skills of the volleyball; Pakistan finished the last set at 25-20 to lift the champions’ trophy.

Pakistan entered the final with an unbeaten record and continued its outstanding form by dominating every department of the game. The Green Shirts combined powerful serving, disciplined blocking, quick attacks, and outstanding defense to keep Bangladesh under constant pressure.

Bangladesh attempted to mount a comeback in the third set, but Pakistan remained composed and controlled the crucial points before sealing a convincing 25–20 victory to lift the championship trophy in front of an ecstatic home crowd.

Sri Lanka beat Uzbekistan 3-2 in third-place play-off:

The final day’s action began with the 3rd Place Match between Sri Lanka and Uzbekistan, producing another exciting five-set encounter. Sri Lanka made a strong start by taking the opening set before Uzbekistan responded to level the match. The two teams continued exchanging sets in a thrilling contest that kept spectators on the edge of their seats.

In the decisive fifth set, Sri Lanka displayed remarkable composure and determination to seal the victory and secure the bronze medal. Sri Lanka defeated Uzbekistan 3–2 with the set score of 25–19, 22–25, 25–23, 19–25 and 15–11. The victory earned Sri Lanka a well-deserved third-place finish, while Uzbekistan concluded the championship in fourth position.

Final Championship Rankings:

First: Pakistan

Second: Bangladesh

Third: Sri Lanka

4th Place: Uzbekistan

5th Place: Kazakhstan

6th Place: Nepal

Dream Team Awards:

Outside Hitter: Murad Jehan (Pakistan)

Outside Hitter: Tharusha Chamath Dilshan Weerappulige (Sri Lanka)

Middle Blocker: Musawer Khan (Pakistan)

Middle Blocker: Md Naieem Hossen (Bangladesh)

Setter: Al Amin MD (Bangladesh)

Opposite Player: Murad Khan (Pakistan)

Libero: Md Shaon Ali (Bangladesh)

Most Valuable Player (MVP): Murad Jehan (Pakistan).

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Cancellation of Illegal Notices, Fine Recovery, and Ban on Doping Faction

ISLAMABAD/LAHORE : In a major step to safeguard clean athletes, Brigadier Zahid Iqbal (Retd), Chairman of the Pakistan Weightlifting Federation’s Interim Committee, has officially written to the Pakistan Sports Board,

the Ministry of Inter-Provincial Coordination, and the Pakistan Olympic Association, with copies dispatched to the International Weightlifting Federation and other global bodies.

The letter presents key demands, including the immediate nullification of show-cause notices issued by the suspended federation, recovery of a USD 30,000 international fine from officials involved in doping violations, a complete ban on corrupt elements, and seeking provisional recognition from the international federation to facilitate the upcoming March 2027 South Asian Games.

According to the communication, the self-proclaimed president of the suspended faction, Jabran Bin Salman, unlawfully issued show-cause notices to the Higher Education Commission and over 60 national weightlifters for competing in the PSB-approved National Championship held in Lahore from July 10–15, 2026.

Top record holders Furqan Ahmad and Sahar Waien were also targeted in this retaliatory move. The Interim Committee emphasized that the suspended body is once again attempting to ruin young careers, echoing past unfair actions against Commonwealth Games champions Nooh Dastagir Butt and Shuja ud Din Malik.

The letter commended the Higher Education Commission for upholding government anti-doping policies despite threats. Finally, the Interim Committee urged the Pakistan Sports Board to formally ban suspended individuals including Hafiz Imran, Irfan Butt, Talha Talib, Abu Bakar Ghani, and Jabran Bin Salman and recover the USD 30,000 penalty from them to reimburse the international federation and secure the future of clean weightlifters.

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District West Clinches Title

Rs. 35,000 Prize Money Distributed Among Winning Teams; Trophies, Certificates,

Ajraks and Commemorative Shields Presented

Karachi: The Karachi Kabaddi Association successfully organized the First Ghulam Yaseen Memorial Inter-District Women’s Kabaddi Championship at the KMC Sports Complex, where women’s teams from different districts of Karachi showcased their talent and competitive spirit.

The closing ceremony was attended by the Secretary of the Sindh Sports and Youth Affairs Department, Munawar Ali Mahesar, as the Chief Guest. Speaking on the occasion, he said that the promotion of women’s sports remains one of the Sindh Government’s priorities and that every possible support will continue to be extended to talented female athletes.

Sindh Olympic Association Secretary Ahmed Ali Rajput congratulated the Karachi Kabaddi Association, the organizers, and all participating players for successfully hosting the championship. He said that such events play a vital role in promoting women’s sports, discovering new talent, and strengthening the future of kabaddi in Sindh.

In the championship final, District West produced an impressive performance to defeat District East and claim the title of the First Ghulam Yaseen Memorial Inter-District Women’s Kabaddi Championship.

At the prize distribution ceremony, Chief Guest Munawar Ali Mahesar awarded Rs. 15,000 to the champion team, Rs. 10,000 to the runners-up, while the two teams finishing in joint third place received Rs. 5,000 each. A total prize purse of Rs. 35,000 was distributed during the championship.

Winning players also received trophies and certificates, while the distinguished guests were presented with traditional Ajraks and commemorative shields.

KBZ owner Masood Ahmed Kalia expressed his pleasure at seeing girls actively participating on the kabaddi field. He said that such competitions should continue regularly to encourage women’s participation in sports and provide more opportunities for young athletes.

Among the women present at the ceremony were Iqbal Khatoon, Sana Ali, Majida Hameed, Parveen Akhtar, Farah Riaz, Abida, Mutiaba Akhtar, Talat Idrees, Faheemah Zamir, Anjum, Saeeda Iftikhar, and Ayesha Iftikhar.

Those in attendance from the men’s side included Sheikh Shakeel Ilyas, Shehzad Qadir, Khalid Rehmani, Asghar Baloch, Ghulam Muhammad Khan, Farooq Azam, Syed Muhammad Nasir, Muhammad Akhtar, Abdul Hameed,

M Rehan Akram (Media Coordinator) Musaddiq Hasan, Nafees Ahmed, Aurangzeb Sultan, Zain-ul-Abideen (son of late Ghulam Yaseen), Isa G, Shayan Iqbal, Mudassar, Bilal, and several other sports personalities.

The officiating duties throughout the championship were efficiently performed by Mudassar, Bilal, Shayan Iqbal, Isa G, and Ayesha Iftikhar, ensuring that all matches were conducted smoothly and professionally.

At the conclusion of the ceremony, the speakers appreciated the efforts of the Karachi Kabaddi Association in promoting women’s kabaddi and expressed their commitment to organizing similar events in the future to provide female athletes with greater opportunities to excel at the national and international levels.

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By Nawaz Gohar ; The Organizing Committee for the 6th Asian Indoor and Martial Arts Games (Riyadh 2026) has taken another significant step toward full operational readiness following a comprehensive briefing provided to participating National Olympic Committees (NOCs) during the official Chefs de Mission Seminar.

The primary plenary session focused on critical operational pillars ahead of the event, covering accreditation, visa processing, sports entry registrations, arrival and departure logistics, competition venues, athlete services, and the overall sports program.

The session featured detailed presentations from key event leaders and operational experts: Hisham Nassar: Riyadh 2026 Overview, Louisa Nunes: Accreditation, Ibrahim Al-Haidar: Visa Procedures, Anna-Maria Strato:

Sports Entry Registration, Eyad Al-Harthi: Arrival and Departure Operations, Mark Kaufman: Sports Program, Anas Chowdhary: Competition Venues and Talal Al-Yousef & Ziad Abdulshakoor: Athletes’ Village Operations.

These comprehensive briefings provided participating NOCs with a clear operational roadmap, laying the groundwork for a world-class experience at the Games in Riyadh this December.

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By Nawaz Gohar ; Significant claims have emerged regarding the potential return of former Pakistan cricket team captain Babar Azam to a leadership role. According to international media reports, the star batter has allegedly set a firm condition: he must be guaranteed the captaincy across all three formats in the future before accepting the mantle of Test captain.

Reports suggest that selectors have assured Azam that if the national team’s performance improves during the upcoming five Test matches against the West Indies and England, they will strongly consider reinstating him as the permanent all-format captain.

Sources indicate that two selectors met with Azam prior to the selection of the Test captain. The approach was made as the Pakistan team found itself with limited options following a series of disappointing results under the current leadership of Shan Masood.

The report further noted that Azam has always harbored a strong desire to lead Pakistan across all three formats and was entirely reluctant to accept solely the Test captaincy without broader assurances.

It is worth recalling that Azam stepped down as Pakistan’s all-format captain following the team’s exit from the 2023 ODI World Cup. In the aftermath of his resignation, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) appointed Shan Masood to lead the red-ball side and handed the limited-overs leadership to fast bowler Shaheen Shah Afridi.

For his part, Azam has stated that he is prepared to take on the renewed responsibility. He emphasized that he has learned from past experiences and that his ultimate priority remains bringing further success to Pakistan cricket.

However, the PCB has yet to issue any official statement or confirmation regarding these ongoing rumors surrounding Azam’s captaincy demands.

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By Nawaz Gohar ; Hosts Pakistan and Bangladesh have booked their places in the final of the CAVA Men’s Volleyball Championship 2026 after claiming dominant victories over their respective opponents in the semifinals.

In the first semifinal, Pakistan delivered a masterclass performance to sweep Sri Lanka in straight sets, 3-0 (25-18, 25-10, 25-21). Demonstrating superior teamwork, explosive offensive attacks, and a solid defensive baseline, the national team gave Sri Lanka little room to mounting a comeback, preserving Pakistan’s unbeaten run throughout the tournament.

In the second semifinal, Bangladesh matched the feat with a commanding 3-0 victory over Uzbekistan to secure their spot in the summit clash. Bangladesh maintained complete control across all three sets, leaving Uzbekistan to contend for third place.

Earlier in the day, Kazakhstan claimed fifth place in the tournament after defeating Nepal 3-0. Despite a spirited fightback from Nepal, Kazakhstan’s disciplined play proved decisive.

The final of the CAVA Men’s Volleyball Championship 2026 will feature host and undefeated Pakistan taking on Bangladesh. Meanwhile, Uzbekistan and Sri Lanka will go head-to-head in the third-place bronze medal match.

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