AFP keeps mum on banned player’s issue
ISLAMABAD - Athletics Federation of Pakistan (AFP) kept a mum on following rules and regulations and continued to allow banned athlete Sumaira Zahoor to attend the International Association of Athletics Federation (IAAF) Level-I coaching course currently underway here at the Pakistan Sports Complex. When this scribe visited the camp and asked director course Nasrullah Rana why Sumaira was allowed to continue the course despite ban, he replied: “It is not my responsibility to stop or allow any athlete from attending the course but it’s a duty of the AFP to check the entire issue.”A total of 35 coaches including three females are attending the course, but majority of them are even unaware about the basics of training and they are coaches of different national institutions. How is it possible for a person to impart coaching, when he or she needs to know the basics of coaching first that is the reason behind fast decline of sports in Pakistan. When no one is ready to keep a close check and balance on such issues of grave importance, future of Pakistan will be surely bleak. Blue-eyed and non-professionals are being hired to coach the grassroots level talent of the country which is not less than a joke with Pakistan sports. When asked about the pathetic knowledge of majority of the attendants of the course, Nasrullah said: “Yes, the situation is not encouraging, but this course is being organised after a long gap of more than a decade. It is not entirely their fault as they should have been provided with more and more opportunities to learn about the basics.” “There is an urgent need of conducting such courses on regular basis to learn basic and latest coaching techniques, which will help not only our coaches but also top players to remain in touch with latest techniques and developments,” Nasrullah added. Sumaira, who represented Pakistan in 2004 Athens Olympics, faced ban for testing positive in a dope test imposed by Anti-Doping Organisation Pakistan (ADOP), as soon as Anti-Doping Organisation imposed a maximum two-year ban on Sumaira. She immediately announced retirement as an athlete and instead opted to start career as a coach. The loopholes in rules and regulations should be removed without any further delay and the cheaters should be given exemplary punishments, so no one may dare to repeat such things in future. –Staff Reporter

Wozniacki postpones search for coach
COPENHAGEN - Denmark's former world number one Caroline Wozniacki is in no hurry to find a permanent new coach with her father Piotr again playing a key role in her coaching team. The 23-year-old has been without a coach since sacking Swede Thomas Hogstedt in January. In 2011 Wozniacki asked her father, who had coached her for much of her career, to stand aside but she has yet to find the right coach to help her return to the top of the rankings. "It sounds like a cliche, but after trying various coaches I've found what works best. When my father is there it is safe and fun," she said. "I won't go out and get a new coach at any price. One thing I've learned is that a coach shouldn't just be good professionally. Because we are so close when we travel, we have to click personally."–Reuters

Wapda-B, PIA win in Memorial Hockey
LAHORE - Wapda-B and PIA scored victories in the 1st Brigadier (r) Manzoor Hussain Atif Memorial Hockey Tournament at the Sargodha Hockey Stadium. According to information made available here on Wednesday, Wapda-B beat Railways 2-0 while PIA defeated Punjab 6-2. In the first match, Wapda’s scored their first goal in the 16th minute through Suleman as the first half ended at 1-0. Railways forwards made a number of attacks to level the score in the second half but luck was not in their way. Wapda’s second goal came through Waseem in the 60th minute. Star-studded PIA easily subdued Punjab team in the second match. From PIA, Ammad Shakeel, Ahsanullah, Afsar Yaqoob, Muzamal Bhatti, Nohaiz Malik and Amir Shahzad scored one goal apiece. From Punjab, Zubair Riaz and Hafiz Aamir hit one goal each.–Staff Reporter

National Open Polo Championship
LAHORE – Diamond Paints/Master Paints edged out Master Paints/Diamond Paints by 10-6 in the Porsche National Open Polo Championship for the Quaid-e-Azam Gold Cup 2014 match played here at the Lahore Polo Club. Hissam Ali Hyder and Agustin Canale of Diamond Paints/Master Paints were instrumental in their team’s victory. From the winning side, Hissam Ali Hyder played superb polo and slammed six goals while Agustin Canale contributed significant two goals. Horacio Llorente of Master Paints/Diamond Paints also played well and hammered six goals but he couldn’t save his team from a defeat.–Staff Reporter

Usman handed another humiliating defeat
ISLAMABAD - Pakistan No 5 player and Davis Cupper Usman Ejaz suffered another humiliating defeat in the All-Pakistan Rahim Yar Khan National Ranking Tournament pre-quarterfinals Wednesday. Israr Gul, 48, beat Usman in three sets. Earlier, Usman was beaten in the Memorial Tournament by Nofil Kaleem and now he suffered another defeat at the hands of Israr. With such performances, how could Usman, who never beat a top-ranked player in the singles, think about representing Pakistan in the Davis Cup Asia-Oceania Group-II tie against mighty Philippines? Israr won the first set 7-6 on tiebreak, Usman then bounced back and won the second 6-0 while Israr won the third 7-6 on tiebreak to book a quarters berth. Aqeel brushed aside Pakistan No 1 U-18 player M Mudassar in straight sets 6-2, 6-0.–Staff Reporter