Karachi retain Sindh Games title

KARACHI: Braving simmering heat and massive mismanagement, Karachi’s athletes enabled the port city to retain the winners’ trophy as they finished the 17th Sindh Games with a whopping 126 gold medals here on Sunday.

This was the 17th straight time that Karachi were able to emerge as the champions. Karachi also claimed 36 silver and 16 bronze medals in the four-day competition, which concluded at the PSB Coaching Centre.

Hyderabad finished second with 15 gold, 61 silver, and 46 bronze. Sukkur ended third with 12 gold, 20 silver and 51 bronze. They were followed by Mirpurkhas (7-18-43), Shaheed Benazirabad (6-11-39) and Larkana (4-25-24).

In men’s competitions, Karachi won 81 gold, 24 silver, and 12 bronze. They were followed by Sukkur (11-14-29), Hyderabad (7-32-31), Benazirabad (6-10-31), Mirpurkhas (5-13-29) and Larkana (4-21-20). In women’s contests, Karachi led with 45 gold, 12 silver and four bronze medals. They were followed by Hyderabad (8-29-15), Mirpurkhas (2-5-14), Sukkur (1-6-22), Larkano (0-4-4) and Shaheed Benazirabad (0-1-8).

Sindh chief minister Murad Ali Shah graced the closing ceremony and handed over trophies to the leading sides. Shaheed Benazirabad received the fair-play trophy.Karachi’s Esha was declared the best female athlete for grabbing five gold medals.

Arbab Tanoli of Karachi was adjudged the best male athlete for winning two gold medals and one silver in athletics.Esha has been picked in the national junior side which will feature in the South Asian Junior Championship in Colombo early next month.

The flag was handed over to Larkana which will host the 18th Sindh Games. The chief minister appreciated the efforts of the provincial sports department for organising the event.

“We will continue to hold such events in future. The timing will also be taken into consideration. Such competitions should be held in pleasant weather so that the athletes could do their best,” the chief minister said.

“We held in Karachi the PSL final, hosted Pakistan-West Indies T20 tour, organised international hockey and football events. In future too we will try to provide ample opportunities to our youth so that besides education they could also prove themselves in sports,” Murad said.

Sindh secretary sports Dr Niaz Ali Abbasi and Sindh sports minister Sardar Mohammad Bux Mahar also spoke on the occasion. In the four-day extravaganza, which was held after a gap of six years, 3001 athletes and officials from six divisions of Sindh showed their worth.

Men competed in 29 and women in 17 disciplines. In men’s events, Karachi won titles in 22 disciplines, Larkana won the titles in T20 cricket and weightlifting, Sukkur were crowned champions in kodi kodi, malh, shooting ball and wanjhwatti, while Hyderabad won the wrestling event.

In female competitions, Karachi swept all the 17 titles. Karachi also won both the men and women ju-jitsu events. In men’s events Karachi (50 points) claimed five gold, Hyderabad ended second (23 points) with one silver and three bronze. Larkana finished third (21 points) with two silver and one bronze.

In the women’s events, too, Karachi topped the competitions with 53 points which they secured through four gold, one silver and one bronze. Hyderabad (49 points) gave tough time to Karachi, finishing second with two gold, three silver and one bronze. Sukkur wrapped-up the journey with 23 points which they got through one silver and three bronze.

On Saturday night, in women volleyball final, Karachi defeated Hyderabad 3-0 here at the KPT Sports Complex.

Benazirabad got the third position. Karachi also won men’s volleyball crown by beating Sukkur in the final at the same venue.

Hyderabad claimed the third position.

Karachi were crowned champions of the men’s throwball event as they overpowered Benazirabad 2-0 in the final at the Nazimabad Mini Sports Complex. Suukur got the third position, beating Hyderabad 2-1.

Karachi also clinched the women’s throwball title, edging Hyderabad 2-0 in the final. Larkana overwhelmed Sukkur 2-1 to secure the third position.

In netball, too, Karachi won both men’s and women’s titles, beating Hyderabad in the finals. Mirpurkhas clinched the third position in both the events.