Irish boxing Olympic heroine Taylor turns pro

LONDON - Ireland's 2012 boxing gold medallist Katie Taylor has set aside the disappointment of failing to defend her lightweight title in Rio and turned professional, she announced on Thursday. The 30-year-old five time world champion -- who suffered a shock quarter-final loss in Rio -- will make her professional debut at Wembley's SSE Arena on Nov 26. This will set her up for appearing on the undercard of another gold medalist from 2012 Anthony Joshua's second defence of his IBF world heavyweight title at the Manchester Arena on Dec 10. "I'm excited for the road ahead," said Taylor, whose form slipped even before Rio as her long time mentor father Peter disappeared from her corner and was replaced by her brother Lee. "When I first dreamt of Olympic gold, female boxing was practically unknown.”–AFP

 

aIslamabad win Wheel-Chairs Cricket

 

ISLAMABAD – Defending champions Islamabad won the 7th All-Pakistan Wheel-Chairs Cricket Tournament male category 2016, after defeating Lahore in the final played here at Jinnah Stadium, Pakistan Sports Complex on Friday. Lahore lifted the women category title after beating Abbottabad in the final. Inter Provincial Coordination (IPC) minister Riaz Hussain Pirzada graced the occasion as chief guest. In the female final, Abbottabad, batting first, scored 31 in allotted 3 overs and in reply, Lahore achieved the target two balls earlier. In the male final, Lahore, batting first, could score 23 runs in 3 overs while in reply, Islamabad reached home with two balls to spare. The chief guest awarded trophies and prizes to the champions, runners-up and participating teams.–Staff Reporter

 

 

 

IFA team enter China Int’l Football semis

ISLAMABAD – Islamabad Football Association (IFA) team squeezed into the semifinals of the China International Football Tournament 2016, after routing NCTU China 4-0 in the quarterfinal played at Olympic Stadium, Beijing on Friday. IFA media manager Rana Tanveer said: “Both the teams were locked at 0-0 in the first half. Zain scored the first goal for IFA in the 51st minute, while Faisal doubled their advantage in the 54th minute. It was outstanding display by striker Amil, who scored a brace for the winners, which ensured a comfortable victory for the visiting IFA Youth team. “Amil, who scored his first and team’s third goal in the 75th minute, completed the rout in the 83rd minute. TEBE Germany, Cheonggu Korea and Bion Korea enrted semifinals which will be played today (Saturday).–Staff Reporter

 

 

 

PRU ‘Get into Rugby’ programme

 

LAHORE - The Pakistan Rugby Union’s (PRU) ‘Get into Rugby’ programme is in progress in various cities of the country. According to PRU head coach and programme coordinator Shakil Malik, the PRU coaches and instructors are imparting the basics of the game among students in various schools, colleges and cities of the country. “Be it Peshawar, South Punjab or Islamabad, the game is being spread throughout the country under GIR programme.” He said for the last couple of days, the programme was being implemented at Lahore’s Rugby academy at Lahore Cantt, Bright Ways School System in Kot Addu, Govt Primary School at Fatwal, Govt Primary School Sultan, Science Foundation School, Quaid-i-Azam City School, Islamabad’s City School Campus and City School Islamabad, IMS BG 9 and several other institutes.”–Staff Reporter

 

 

LAHORE: Hockey players of Govt Girls High School Barki and Ideal School System pose for a photo with international players Sehrish, Binish Hayat and Hina Pervaiz during the Coca Cola and Ali Institute-sponsored Sports Gala.