AKU wins PMA Defence Day sports gala

By Abdul Qadir Qureshi 
(Pakistan News & Features Services)

A number of events were organized in connection with the Defence Day of Pakistan across the country with the highlight of the day being the function held at the General Headquarters in Rawalpindi to pay tribute to the martyrs. 

The Pakistan Marine Academy (PMA) organized the Defence Day Sports Gala at the Women Sports Complex, Gulshan-e-Iqbal in Karachi. 

As many as 14 educational institutions from all over the metropolis took part in five disciplines which included table tennis, badminton, volleyball, basketball and squash. 

Aga Khan University (AKU) emerged as the overall champions of the gala as its athletes came up with impressive all-round performance to run away with the trophy.

The Sir Syed University of Engineering and Technology (SSUET), having enjoyed success in quite a few sporting contests in the recent past, took part in the men’s events of table tennis, badminton, volleyball and basketball. 

The SSUET claimed the runners-up spot in volleyball, bagged third position in table tennis and ended as losing semifinalists in badminton. 

The Deputy Mayor of Karachi, Arshad Vohra, distributed the prizes alongwith the Commandant PMA, Commodore Akbar Naqi, while the SSUET Registrar, Syed Sarfraz Ali, and the SSUET Additional Registrar, Mohammad Aamir, were also present in the ceremony.

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SSUET excels in Independence Day Swimming contest

By Abdul Qadir Qureshi 
(Pakistan News & Features Services)

The Sir Syed University of Engineering and Technology (SSUET) excelled in the Independence Day Open Swimming Championship staged at the Defence Authority Creek Club to celebrate the 70th Independence Day of Pakistan. 

The SSUET took three medals in the event which was jointly organized by the Defence Authority Creek Club and the Pakistan Marine Academy. Mohammad Ahmed claimed silver medal in 50m freestyle and bronze medal in 50m butterfly while Hyder earned bronze in 100m breaststroke. 

The Convener of the Aligarh Institute of Technology (AIT), Engr Syed Anwer Ali, who is also the Vice President of the Aligarh Muslim University Old Boys Association (AMUOBA), honoured the members of the SSUET swimming team and congratulated them on their worthy efforts in the open championship contested by 14 institutes from all over the province.

The Sindh Sports Minister, Sardar Mohammad Baksh Khan Maher, was the chief guest in the prize distribution ceremony which was also attended by Secretary of the Defence Authority Creek Club, Brig Sajid Iqbal Jadoon, and Commodore Akbar Naqi, Commandant, Pakistan Marine Academy. 

The Independence Day Open Swimming Championship was recognized as a success story by the participants and the hosts were appreciated for having conducted the event nicely. 

In fact the Sindh Sports Minister was so much impressed with the facilities at the venue and he considered it to be an ideal host for future swimming competitions. 

Cake cutting also took place and it was followed by a flag retrieving ceremony, conducted with traditional fervor and enthusiasm.

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Rumman Raees sets SSUET alight

By Abdul Qadir Qureshi
(Pakistan News & Features Services)

The Sir Syed University of Engineering and Technology (SSUET) was set alight by the visit of left-arm fast bowler Rumman Raees, one of the heroes of the ICC Champions Trophy Cricket Tournament 2017, as part of the celebrations of Pakistan’s 70th Independence Day. 

The Convener of the Aligarh Institute of Technology (AIT), Engr Syed Anwer Ali, who is also the Vice President of the Aligarh Muslim University Old Boys Association (AMUOBA), greeted the cricket hero and described him as a role model for the youngsters. 

Engr Anwer Ali, himself an all-round cricketer of merit, lavishly praised the performance of Pakistan’s cricket team which saw them win the Champions Trophy in England against all odds.

Rumman Raees, who was one of three debutants in the tournament, performed exceedingly well in his only appearance and he was very rightly hailed as one of the heroes. 

“It’s in the fitness of things that the Champions Trophy winning Pakistani cricketers returned home to a heroic welcome wherever they went around. It was heartening to watch the fans thronging the airports and gathering outside their residences to celebrate the triumph,” Engr Anwar Ali reckoned. 

“All the members of the team deserved credit for having made the nation proud with their outstanding performance. From skipper Sarfraz Ahmed down to Rumman Raees all of them deserve to be hailed as heroes,” he added.

“The presence of Rumman Raees here at the SSUET has thrilled us and what an occasion he has chosen to be with us. His presence in the Independence Day celebrations has made all of us excited and ecstatic,” Engr Anwar Ali complimented. 

Rumman Raees is a welcome addition to the list of high quality left-arm fast bowlers produced by Pakistan. He had come to the limelight in the inaugural edition of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) in 2016 and he was duly rewarded with Pakistan debut in a T20 International against West Indies later the same year.

He turned out to one of the star performers of the second edition of the PSL in 2017 during which he picked up no less than a dozen wickets in just seven matches. He was chosen for the limited-overs leg of Pakistan's West Indies tour in April 2017 but was originally omitted from the Champions Trophy squad. 

It was the injury to Wahab Riaz during the course of the event in England which created a vacancy and Rumman Raees was drafted in as replacement. 

He made his memorable debut in One-day Internationals in the high voltage semifinal against England after Mohammad Aamir had to pull out at the eleventh hour due to back problems.

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SSUET clinches tug of war contest

By Abdul Qadir Qureshi
(Pakistan News & Features Services)

The Sir Syed University of Engineering and Technology (SSUET) emerged victorious in the Independence Day tug of war competition organized by the Karachi Tug of War Association (KTWA) at the Customs Sports Complex housed in Federal-B-Area. 

The SSUET won the Independence Day contest by overpowering Central Fitness Club who was soundly beaten in a couple of successive rounds. 

The Convener AIT, Engr Syed Anwer Ali, who is also the Vice President of the Aligarh Muslim University Old Boys Association (AMUOBA), was the chief guest in the prize distribution ceremony. 

Engr Anwer Ali, himself an active sportsman, praised the efforts of the organizers in promoting the sport of tug of war which is an ancient athletic contest between two teams who haul at the opposite ends of a rope. 

He spoke about the significance of sports in building a healthy society, urging all the stakeholders to work jointly to achieve the common goal. 

The Secretary of the Sindh Olympic Association (SOA), Ahmed Ali Rajput, also attended the presenting ceremony alngwith the officials of the KTWA.

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SSUET edges out Virtual University in Independence Day Table Tennis series

Pakistan News & Features Services

The Sir Syed University of Engineering and Technology (SSUET) edged out the Virtual University by two matches to one in the Independence Day Table Tennis series staged at the SSUET Gymnasium Hall. 

The Convener of the Aligarh Institute of Technology (AIT), Engr Syed Anwer Ali, also the Vice President of the Aligarh Muslim University Old Boys Association (AMUOBA), was the chief guest in the prize distribution ceremony. 

In his brief address on the occasion, Engr Anwer Ali, hailed as one of the pillars of the AMUOBA, recalled the sacrifices of the millions of Muslims of South Asia in the creation of Pakistan.

“The Independence Day reminds us of the great sacrifices of our ancestors who had made the creation of Pakistan possible. We salute them for having braved the toughest of circumstances and endured pains of all kinds for the sake of the newly founded country. We have derived inspiration from their selfless acts and I hope that our future generations will continue to be inspired by their services,” Engr Anwar Ali remarked. 

Himself a former first-class cricketer of high pedigree, he touched about the need to inculcate the famous Aligarhian sporting spirit among the youth of the country for letting them excel in sports as well as academics. The three-match table tennis series turned out be an absorbing one. 

The SSUET drew the first blood by winning the first match in straight sets but the Virtual University bounced back in the next match to set up an interesting decider. The third and final match was clinched by the hosts who also pocketed the series.

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SSUET release sporting activities chronicle

By Abdul Qadir Qureshi

(Pakistan News & Features Services)

The sports activities at the Sir Syed University of Engineering and Technology (SSUET), Karachi, have remained an integral part of the schedule of their working since its establishment.

These activities have been taking place in accordance with the Aligarh spirit. The SSUET has laid great emphasis on physical fitness for the development of student‘s personality. Recently a chronicle of the activities of the SSUET students during the past couple of years in the field of sports has been compiled which documents their recent glories. 

According to the report, the SSUET achieved twin success in the IBA Sports Gala 2016-17 where its students won the cricket as well as the football tournaments. Then the SSUET secured first position in the qualifying rounds of the HEC All Pakistan Inter-Varsity Volleyball Championship 2016-17 while they made to the quarter-finals of the main event.

The SSUET emerged victorious in the HEC Inter-Varsity Hockey Championship 2016-17 as the edged out University of Karachi by a solitary goal in the final after having overpowered Iqra University 3-1 in the semifinals. 

They, however, lost to Punjab University in the quarter-finals of the main rounds. 

The SSUET clinched the All Karachi Inter-Varsity Cricket Tournament organized by Bahria University and participated by a dozen universities of the metropolis. They also won the Inter University Cricket Tournament organized by the NED University in 2016. 

They got second position in the clash of champions’ cricket tournament organized by NED University, losing out to Iqra University in the final. The International Sports Day for Peace & Development was celebrated with an exhibition volleyball match with the SSUET defeating the University of Karachi on their home turf.

The SSUET also featured in the HEC Inter-Varsity Basketball Championship 2016-17 where they down fighting to Greenwich University in the quarter-finals. 

The SSUET students also made their mark in the various weight categories of the HEC All Pakistan Inter-Varsity Boxing Championship 2016-17, organized by Benazir Bhutto Shaheed University, Karachi. 

The SSUET ended runners-up in the qualifying rounds HEC All Pakistan Inter-Varsity Badminton Championship 2016-17. They also participated in the All Pakistan Intervarsity Judo Championship 2016-17 held at Sindh Agriculture University, Tandojam. 

The SSUET organized Pakistan Day exhibition hockey match in which outclassed Hamdard University 4-1 at the UBL Sports Complex.

They finished as the runners-up among 20 participating universities of Karachi in the PMA Inter-University Sports Gala 2017 held at the Pakistan Marine Academy as they were triumphant in hockey, football and volleyball tournaments while they were edged out in the semifinals of cricket and basketball competitions. 

The SSUET, as per directives of the HEC, hosted the Inter-Varsity Zone-G Football Tournament in January 2017. The five-day tournament, contested by 15 teams, turned out to be an organizational success story. They had also organized the Jashan-e-Azadi Inter-University Cricket Tournament in 2016 in which the top 12 outfits of the city took part. They ended runners-up after being overpowered by Hamdard University in the final. 

The SSUET, with the collaboration of the Sindh Sports Journalists Association, organized a seminar on the topic of state of sports in Pakistan at the campus which was well attended.

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Olympian Jaseem Khan visits Alma Mater

By Abdul Qadir Qureshi
(Pakistan News & Features Services)

The captain of the Pakistan hockey team, Olympian Jaseem Khan, who remained a student of the Sir Syed University of Engineering and Technology (SSUET), Karachi, and obtained an engineering degree from the institution, visited his Alma Mater. 

On the occasion he met Chancellor Jawaid Anwar and Vice-Chancellor Prof Dr Mohammed Afzal Haq besides Registrar Syed Sarfraz Ali, Dean of Engineering Prof Dr Altaf, Faculty Chairpersons and other university officials. 

The Chancellor eulogized the services of Jaseem Khan and described him a special talent which emerged from the SSUET and became a national asset. 

Wishing him all the best in his future career, Chancellor Jawaid Anwar presented him the university's souvenir The Director Sports SSUET, Mubbashir Mukhtar, Javed Iqbal and Asif Zaheer were also present on the occasion.

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International Day of Sports celebrated

By Abdul Qadir Qureshi
(Pakistan News & Features Services)

An exhibition volleyball match marking the International Day of Sports for Development and Peace was played between Sir Syed University of Engineering and Technology (SSUET) and the University of Karachi at the SSUET campus on April 6. 

In what turned out to be a one sided contest, SSUET emerged victorious in straight sets with the scores 25-14, 25-18 and 26-24. 

The SSUET captain Asif alongwith Humayon, Sohail, Azadar and Hatim outclassed the opponents. KU's Anus and Ammar offered some resistance to but they were unable to change the complexion of the match. 

Shahid Masood, Joint Secretary, Pakistan Volleyball Federation, and Secretary Sindh Volleyball Association, was the chief guest on the occasion and he appreciated the efforts of SSUET in promoting the sports. 

In the end, Shahid Masood, alongwith the SSUET Registrar, Syed Sarfraz Ali, and the SSUET Director Sports, Mubashir Mukhtar, distributed the prizes and souvenirs to both the teams. A large number of faculty members, staff and students from both the universities witnessed the match.

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SSUET becomes zonal hockey champions

By Abdul Qadir Qureshi
(Pakistan News & Features Services)

The Sir Syed University of Engineering and Technology (SSUET), Karachi, has won the final of the Higher Education Commission (HEC) Zone G Hockey Championship by defeating the hosts and defending champions, the University of Karachi by a solitary goal. 

By winning the zonal final, the SSUET became Zone Champion and qualified for taking part in the final round of the HEC hockey tournament. 

The tournament will be participated by two teams each of all the eight zones. The final round will be held at the University of Engineering and Technology (UET), Lahore, on March 14. The SSUET squad has left for Lahore by Green Line Train.

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SSUET prodigy Haseem Khan to lead Pakistan’s hockey team

By Abdul Qadir Qureshi 
(Pakistan News & Features Services)

Another feather was added to the cap of the Sir Syed University of Engineering and Technology (SSUET), Karachi, as one of its former students, Abdul Haseem Khan, has been appointed as the captain of Pakistan’s hockey team for the upcoming tours of Australia and New Zealand.

A student of electronic engineering batch 2006 at the SSUET, Haseem Khan will be leading Pakistan on the twin tours, due to start from the third week of March. He had earlier also captained Pakistan’s junior team. 

Pakistan will play a total of nine international matches, five in New Zealand and four in Australia. The tours are part of Pakistan’s preparations for the World Cup qualifying rounds to be held in June in London. 

According to the squad announced by the Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF), Abdul Haseem Khan and Mohammad Umar Bhutta will be the captain and the vice-captain respectively with the other members being Mohammad Irfan Junior, Ali Shan, Ajaz Ahmed, Mohammad Dilber, Mohammad Azfar Yaqoob, Mohammad Arslan Qadir, Umair Sarfraz, Amjad Ali, Mazhar Abbas, Ammad Shakeel Butt, Mohammad Aleem Bilal, Nawaz Ashfaq, Abu Bakr Mahmood, Tasawar Abbas, Tazeem-ul-Hassan, Mohammad Rizwan Junior, Mohammad Atif Mushtaq and Mohammad Faisal Qadir.

The SSUET Chancellor, Jawaid Anwar, Vice-Chancellor, Prof Dr Jawed H Rizvi, Registrar, Syed Sarfraz Ali, Convenor Aligarh Institute of Technology (AIT) Anwar Ali, General Secretary AMUOBA Arshad Khan, Convenor Sports Waqar Javed Bukhari, Director Sports, Mubbashir Mukhtar, and other university officials have felicitated him on his appointment as the national captain. 

Haseem Khan had also captained the SSUET' hockey team with distinction in various tournaments, specially the final victory over University of Karachi.  

The institutional support of the SSUET also encouraged and motivated him as he was awarded a gold medal and Rs 100,000 cash prize along with a scholarship for his education in recognition of his services to the national hockey team. 

He was a part of the gold-medal winning Pakistan team at the 16th Asian Games in China in 2010. 

He had earlier made headlines with his scintillating performance at the Asia Cup in Malaysia in 2009.

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SSUET progressing in sports arena

By Abdul Qadir Qureshi

(Pakistan News & Features Services)

The Sir Syed University of Engineering and Technology (SSUET), Karachi, had a very busy sports month in January with the start of new year 2017 with its teams participating in different sports events in a big way.

According to the SSUET Director Sports, Mubbashir Mukhtar, the their outfits participated in cricket, football and table tennis competitions during the month of January, having emerged successful as the champion in the Inter-University Cricket Tournament organized by Bahria University. 

SSUET had clinched the trophy by dethroning Indus University in the final. 

The SSUET had another achievement when it, for the first time, organized the HEC Football Tournament (Zone G) in a most successful manner. 

The tournament was participated by as many as 15 universities with the University of Karachi becoming the champion of Zone G alongwith IBA as the second qualifier. Both teams will now take part in the final round to be staged in Peshawar. 

Mubbashir Mukhtar disclosed that a schedule of sports events for February 2017 has already been prepared whereby a five-member team will take part in All Pakistan Judo Championship to be held in Tando Jam on February 3-4.

The university hockey team has making preparations to participate in HEC Hockey Tournament (Zone G) which is scheduled to start in Karachi from February 7. The tournament is expected to be participated by eight universities. 

In February, Director Sports SSUET informed that the university's boxing squad will be in action in the Final round of All Pakistan Boxing Championship which is being organized by SBB University Lyari. 

The final round will start by the end of the month. 

During the month, Pakistan Marine Academy (PMA) is organizing a Sports Gala from February 16 in which SSUET will participate in cricket, football, hockey, volleyball, badminton, athletics and tug of war events. 

The SSUET Director Sports stated that the preparations for participation in these events have started in a big way. 

He remarked that the SSUET could not have gone this far in its sports activities without the active support of its Chancellor Jawaid Anwar, Vice Chancellor, Prof Dr Jawed H. Rizvi and Registrar Syed Sarfraz Ali who themselves are passionate about sports and desire to see the institution on the top in the sporting arena.

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SSUET to raise boxing team

By Abdul Qadir Qureshi
(Pakistan News & Features Services)

Besides some other sports, the Sir Syed University of Engineering & Technology (SSUET), Karachi, is now raising its boxing team.

According to the SSUET Director Sports, Mubbashir Mukhtar, the work has started on preparing the university's boxing team of eight to 10 members. 

So far, he said, 35 students got themselves registered for induction in the team. 

Mubbashir Mukhtar said that the trials for selection of team members have been conducted and required number of team members selected. 

He added that these selectees will undergo training for which a 10-day training camp, planned to be organized at some reputed martial art club in the city. 

The trials were conducted under the supervision of boxing coach Nasir Khaleeq and witnessed by the SSUET Registrar, Syed Sarfraz Ali. 

The university already has teams in cricket, hockey, football, volleyball, basketball, swimming, judo, taekawndo, table tennis, badminton and bodybuilding.

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SSUET trials for HEC Games commence

By Abdul Qadir Qureshi
(Pakistan News &  Features Services)

The 10-day long trials for selection of teams for the Higher Education Commission (HEC) Games started at the Sir Syed University of Engineering and Technology (SSUET), Karachi, on November 2.

The SSUET will be selecting 14 teams including those of cricket, football, hockey, volleyball and basketball. 

These teams will play in the HEC Games, scheduled to start from December 2016 at different venues of various universities all over Pakistan. 

The trials for selection of the SSUET teams are being organized by the SSUET’s sports department. 

The Director Sports, SSUET, Mubbashir Mukhtar, informed that the trials will help find out new talents to replace those who passed out after completion of their studies. He said that about 1,200 to 1,500 students will be participating in trials for 14 to 16 different disciplines.

The SSUET has shown good performance in sports competitions. 

During 2016 the university has won bronze medal in Judo, Silver in Boxing and three Bronze while won tournaments in cricket and football at universities level. 

Meanwhile, the Registrar SSSUET, Syed Sarfraz Ali, along with Director Sports Mubbbashir Mukhtar, witnessed the students participating in the trials. 

The Registrar was quite impressed with the performance of students and expressed the confidence that the university will be able to raise good teams through talent hunt, competent enough to bring laurels for the university in upcoming sports events. 

He reckoned that the SSUET’s sports department was making commendable efforts to boost the university’s image through sports.

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SSUET granted permission to hold Inter-Varsity sports events

By Abdul Qadir Qureshi

(Pakistan News & Features Services)

The Higher Education Commission (HEC) has granted permission to the Sir Syed University of Engineering and Technology (SSUET), Karachi, for organizing a zonal football tournament as well as the final round of All Pakistan Tug of War.

The decision was taken at a recent meeting of HEC held in Islamabad to review sports activities at universities level. 

The meeting, held annually, was attended by the Director Sports of all the universities. The SSUET was represented by its Director Sports Mubashir Mukhtar. 

The HEC agreed to the SSUET proposal of holding the zonal football round and the final round of Tug of War. On the occasion the Mubashir Mukhtar also presented annual report of the university’s sports activities, informing the meeting about a number of inter-departmental tournaments in cricket, hockey, football, badminton, volleyball, table tennis and an All Karachi Inter-Varsities Jashn-e-Azadi cricket tournament having been organized by the SSUET. 

He presented the report to Director General Sports, HEC, Fida Hussain who appreciated the SSUET’s initiatives in the field of sports.

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SSUET organize Inter-University Cricket Tournament

By Abdul Qadir Qureshi
(Pakistan News & Features Services)

The Inter-University Jashn-e-Azadi Cricket Tournament was inaugurated by the Vice-Chancellor of the Sir Syed University of Engineering and Technology (SSUET), Prof. Dr Jawaid H Rizvi, at the Naya Nazimabad Lawai Stadium in Karachi on August 17. Hosts SSUET and the Pakistan Marine Academy were set to lock horns in the opening fixture. 

Earlier in a media briefing, the SSUET Director Sports, Mubashir Mukhtar, observed that the T20 tournament will provide a boost to sports in educational institutions. 

He pointed out that SSUET had celebrated the Independence Day with an unprecedented zeal and fervor and this tournament was being organized in the same context as part of the independence celebrations. 

Mubbashir Mukhtar informed that Karachi’s best universities were participating in this tournament, having been divided into two groups. 

He stated that there will be two matches daily, to be played in accordance with the laws of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), will be supervised by qualified umpires,  adding that the semifinals will be held on September 2 while the final will be played on September 3. 

The SSUET official  thanked the management of Naya Nnazimabad for providing ground and facilities for the tournament. 

The Director Sports of Naya Nazimabad, Mohammed Iqbal, said that cricket tournaments were being held at their ground for the last four years and the facilities had been appreciated at the national level. 

He informed that soon hockey and football grounds will also be developed in near future and they will always be made available for the sports activities of educational institutions. The CEO of Naya Nazimabad, Samad Habib, and the Financial Controller, Imran Haq, were also present on the occasion

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PHF to lay astro-turf at Sir Syed University

By Abdul Qadir Qureshi

(Pakistan News & Features Services)

The Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF), as a part of its policy to facilitate the youngsters, has decided to lay astro-turf at here the Sir Syed University of Engineering and Technology (SSUET). 

This was announced by Olympian Naved Alam, Director, Development & Domestic, PHF, during the seminar entitled ‘State of Sports in Pakistan’ organized by the Sports Journalists Association Sindh (SJAS) with the collaboration of the SSUET, held at the university campus on August 9. 

“Indeed it’s a tragedy that Pakistan’s hockey team is not playing in the ongoing Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro. Without blaming those responsible for the catastrophe we have decided to get on with it. We have the capacity to regain the lost glories in hockey. India had also not qualified for the 2008 Olympic Games but their team is playing now. There seems no reason why, with so much talents, we could not bounce back at the international level,” the PHF official remarked. 

The SSUET Chancellor, Jawaid Anwar, who presided over the seminar, urged all the stakeholders to work jointly for the cause of promoting sports having brought laurels for the country in the past. 

“It’s time to join hands and rise to the occasion. The country is fortunate to be blessed with enormous talent in sports. It’s the responsibility of all those institutions and departments to work in cohesion to build a kind of infrastructure which is sports friendly,” he reckoned. 

“As part of our contribution to this cause, we are pleased to revive scholarships for our students who excel in sports and are able to earn colours at provincial or national level. We are also in the process of reinforcing our sports department and we would soon be engaging professional coaches to train our students in various games,” the SSUET Chancellor declared. 

Earlier in his opening remarks, the SSUET Registrar, Cdre (retd) Syed Sarfraz Ali, had briefly touched upon the accomplishments of the university in the field of sports. 

Dr Junaid Ali Shah, President, Asghar Ali Shah Sports Foundationa and a former Sindh Minister, believed that the turnaround in sports was very much a possibility if efforts were made collectively in this direction. 

“Let’s try to make things happen. The situation is not conducive but we can still achieve our goals with strong leadership. We have to trust our hopes not fears. Optimism holds the key here. We need to work overtime with missionary zeal in order to accomplish our cherished goals,” he stressed. 

Amjad Aziz Malik, Secretary, International Sports Press Association (AIPS), Asia, proposed that the resourceful departments like Pakistan International Airlines (PIA), Habib Bank Limited (HBL) and National Bank of Pakistan (NBP) be handed over the management of one major sport each. 

“These departments have a history of supporting sports. It will make sense if one of them is entrusted with the responsibility of taking care of cricket while the other one can look after hockey or squash,” he added. 

Azeem Hafeez, a former Test fast bowler, pointed out that the lack of playing facilities was one of the major reasons in the declining standards of various sports in Pakistan. 

“In our playing days there were schools who housed playgrounds. We also had the access to the various cricket grounds which were open to the boys of all over the city. Unfortunately now the grounds have boundary walls and they charge hefty fees to let the cricketers play. Similarly schools cricket is also in doldrums,” he regretted. 

Rishad Mahmood, Editor Sports, Dawn, didn’t mince words in holding the sporting legends responsible for not giving back to sports. 

“It’s very painful to note that those sportsmen who’re able to make it a big, with the exception of just a few, have no inclination to give it back to the game which earned them name and fame. Similarly the sports organizers appear more eager for joyrides than finding ways and means to promote sports,” he lamented.

Mansoor Ali Baig, Editor Sports, Duniya, in his comprehensive speech, covered the ups and downs of the Pakistan sports over the years, recalling the golden era of 1990s when the country had four world titles at a time. 

The seminar was attended by a large number of the SSUET faculty and students besides the members of the SJAS and officials of the various sports bodies.

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KHA astroturf's foundation stone laid

By Abdul Qadir Qureshi

(Pakistan News & Features Services)

The Sindh Chief Secretary, Mohammad Siddiq Memon, along with the Chancellor of the Sir Syed University of Engineering & Technology (SSUET), Karachi, Jawaid Anwar, unveiled the foundation stone of the sports complex project of the Karachi Hockey Association (KHA), located just opposite the SSUET campus. 

The complex will have a hockey ground with astroturf besides a swimming pool and a multi-purpose hall as suggested by Chancellor Jawaid Anwar and approved by the Chief Secretary. 

Speaking on the occasion as the chief guest, CS Siddiq Memon observed that upon the directive of the Sindh Chief Minister, Syed Qaim Ali Shah, the allocation for sports promotion in Sindh has been increased in the budget from Rs one to two billion.

He pointed out that the Sindh Government, besides laying astroturfs, was carrying out construction of sports complexes throughout the province and at present 38 sports-related schemes were under implementation with KHA’s Sports Complex opposite SSUET a part of the same. 

He informed that the schemes have been completed in Sukkur, Larkana and Mirpurkhas where astroturfs was laid. On the special directive of the Chief Minister 54 more projects were being initiated and funds allocated thereof in the budget 2016, he informed adding that objective was to make all out efforts to provide sports facilities to the youth of Sindh. 

He declared that Karachi Hockey Association (KHA) will be given a grant of Rs 30 lacs this year. Addressing the ceremony, the SSUET Chancellor, Jawaid Anwar thanked the Chief Secretary with whose efforts development of the hockey ground had started and it was a welcome initiative that an astroturf will be laid there.

He underlined the necessity of having a swimming pool and a multi-purpose hall in this under construction complex and pointed out that there are a large number of universities, colleges and schools around this ground whose students would be able to benefit from the facilities of this project. 

He congratulated the Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) and particularly the Karachi Hockey Association (KHA) for making outstanding efforts for the promotion of hockey. 

He announced that after the astroturf was laid there, the Sir Syed University of Engineering and Technology will organize an inaugural match between the SSUET’s hockey players, Olympians and Internationals.

He declared that the university will first hold an All Karachi Hockey Tournament on this ground and will provide a good number of students to benefit from this ground. 

He extended all out cooperation of the university towards the promotion of hockey. 

Earlier the General Secretary, KHA, Farooq Khan, thanked the Chief Secretary Siddiq Memon, Sports Secretary, Mohammed Rashid, and Chief Engineer, Aslam Maher, for their contribution in the development of sports complex and laying of astroturf which would provide an opportunity for the youngsters to play hockey . 

The Senior Vice-President, KHA, Aijazuddin, described the project of sports complex and astroturf as a gift from Sindh Government and the youth should take maximum advantage of the same so that new talent could emerge. 

The ceremony was largely attended, among others, by, Anwar Ali, Advisor to Vice-Chancellor, Registrar Syed Sarfraz Ali, besides Olympians Saleem Sherwani, Qamar Ibrahim, Sameer Hussain and Internationals Jan Mohammed, Mohammed Ali and Mubbashir Mkhtar who is also the Director Sports of the SSUET.

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SSUET excels in Inter-Varsities sports

By Abdul Qadir Qureshi
(Pakistan News & Features Services)

The Sir Syed University of Engineering and Technology (SSUET) outfits have excelled in badminton, basketball, boxing, cricket, football, and hockey and table tennis events in the Inter-Varsities competitions during the past 12 months.

According to a report released by SSUET Sports Department, the university won a couple of cricket tournaments and lost in the quarterfinals of the HEC Inter-Varsities Cricket Championship held in Peshawar. 

They won the IBA Cricket League Tournament for the third time in row and won the UNICEF World Water Day Football Tournament. 

The SSUET displayed good potential by grabbing one silver and three bronze medals in the Higher Education Commission Inter-Varsities Boxing Championship held in Islamabad. Zahid Abbas won the silver medal while Shariq Ali Chandio, Talah Mahmood Siddiqui and Syed Ali claimed the bronze medals. 

The winners were honored by the SSUET Chancellor, Jawaid Anwar, for coming up with outstanding performances in fist-fighting. 

The SSUET also performed well in the martial arts by grabbing two bronze medals in the HEC Inter-Varsities Judo Championship. 

The Sir Syed University won the Marine Academy Cricket Tournament thanks to brilliant performance by wicketkeeper Waqas Mahboob. 

The SSUET cricket team also won the IBA Inter University Cricket Tournament last month by outclassing NUST in the final by 75 runs with captain Waqas Mahboob having produced another outstanding performance. 

The Sir Syed University team finished runners-up in the Inter-Varsities contest held the under the auspices of Marine Academy. 

 “We are giving a lot of importance to physical activities at the national, provincial and Karachi level and our players have produced creditable performances,” Sports Director and former hockey international, Mubashir Mukhtar, remarked. He credited the SSUET management for fully facilitating and supporting the athletes to perform well in various events and bring honor for the university. As part of preparations of the good university team, several inter departmental competition were conducted among the male and female students of the university.

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SSUET claim bronze medals in judo

By Abdul Qadir Qureshi
(Pakistan News & Features Services)

The Sir Syed University of Engineering and Technology (SSUET), Karachi, claimed a couple of bronze medals in the HEC Judo Championship for Men 2015-16 held at the University of Karachi. 

According to the details made available by the SSUET Managir, Tariq Khan, Sufyan Ahmed and Usama Khan won bronze medals in the 66 kg and the open weight categories respectively. 

The SSUET, having Nasir Khan as coach, participated in 50, 55, 60, 66, 90 kg weight and open categories.

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SSUET to form women sports outfits

By Abdul Qadir Qureshi

(Pakistan News & Features Services)

The Sir Syed University of Engineering and Technology (SSUET), Karachi, has decided to form teams of its women students in various sports.

This follows a directive from the SSUET Chancellor, Jawaid Anwar, to the university’s sports department asserting that side by side men’s teams, women teams in various sports should also be formed. He emphasized that healthy sports activities bring positive impact in academics. 

It may be mentioned here that Chancellor Jawaid Anwar has resolved to take every step for up gradation of this university to bring it into the fold of country’s top universities. 

Acting on the Chancellor’s directive, the SSUET Director Sports, Mubbashir Mukhar, has started formation of teams of the university’s women students and in the first instance badminton team has been setup comprising of Uzma Baig, Mahnoor, Yashnaa, Bushra and Tressa with Sabin Fatima as team manager and Javed Iqbal as coach. 

The team in its first test participated in the Inter-University Women Badminton Tournament organized by the PAF University. Although the team lost to Iqra University in 0-3 straight sets, the performance of players remained satisfactory. 

Mubbashir Mukhtar observed that the SSUET enjoyed a unique position in various sports besides the curricular activities. 

He said that the university has its teams in 12 different sports including cricket, football, hockey and boxing and exhibited outstanding performance by winning matches during the last couple of years. 

He disclosed that the university will have teams of its women students in table tennis, basketball, netball, throwball besides cricket and hockey and will participate in the university’s inter-departmental sports.

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