Wickmayer defeats Larsson in Japan Open
TOKYO – A turbulent Japan Women's Open ended the second round on Wednesday with fifth seed Johanna Larsson losing out. Belgium's Yanina Wickmayer defeated Swede fifth seed Johanna Larsson in straight sets 7-5, 6-3, while Croatian Ajla Tomljanovic had managed to eliminate veteran Japanese hopeful Kimiko Date-Krumm 7-6 (7/5), 6-3. Third seed Madison Brengle and sixth seed Christina McHale, both American, survived and moved to the next round of the event. On Tuesday, the WTA International event in Tokyo saw top seed Carla Suarez Navarro suffer a first-round exit as she was beaten in straight sets 4-6, 4-6 by the world's 85th ranked Kateryna Bondarenko from Ukraine. The Spaniard, ranked 12th in the world, has struggled to find her rhythm since the early summer.–AFP

Pak bowling team returns with silver
ISLAMABAD - The four-member national bowling team returned home after winning silver medal in the Saint Petersburg Bowling Open Championship 2015 in doubles category. The event concluded on 10th in Russia. The team members Ijaz ur Rehman, Ahmer Saldar, Zafar Iqbal and Ali Suria welcomed warmly at airport. Ijaz and Ahmer Saldar earned silver medal in the doubles fixture of mega international bowling event. Local lad Sidrove pairing with Vaslove Veldmir beat Pakistani players by 40 pins. The winners aggregated 571 pins in two games, while green shirts could post 531 pins on the board after playing two games. Talking to The Nation, Ijaz said: “As many as 18 countries participated in event. Despite poor facilities available back home, our team produced remarkable results and grabbed silver medal in the international bowling showpiece.” “Pakistan can bring more laurels in the game of bowling if the players will be given international standard facilities. We are lacking the facilities despite having enough talent. If provided with facilities, Pakistan players can excel at national and international level and earn glories for the country,” Ijaz concluded. –Staff Reporter

SSA imposes 10-year ban on ex-president
ISLAMABAD - The Sindh Squash Association (SSA) imposed 10-year ban on former president Tahir Jamil Khanzada during their annual general council meeting, which was held in May this year. Talking to The Nation, SSA honorary secretary Amir Khan said: “We had served three notices to Tahir Jamil Khanzada, who failed to clarify his position on the allegations framed against him. He intentionally didn't bother to reply, which shows his guilt.” “Former SSA president Tahir was held responsible for misusing Rs 700,000 SSA funds, which he fraudulently transferred to his personal account through MCB cheque no 4253711 dated 21-3-2012. Moreover, he has failed to submit expenditure report of the above amount,” he added. Tahir had restricted the auditor not to provide audit report to any member of the association, whereas, he had taken the unsigned audit report and fled away. He has also failed to submit draft audit report to the auditor for finalization of account, which was supposed to be placed before executive committee and general body meeting. MCB and National Bank cheque books of SSA are in possession of Tahir through, which he is illegally doing transactions with the bank without the mandatory signature of Abdul Samad Khan, treasurer SSA, which act amounts to misappropriation of funds. Tahir didn't provide the details of transactions and held cheque books, which should have been handed over to Abdul Samad Khan. Amir said: “Tahir has yet to submit the detailed report of expenditure to the treasurer regarding national women squash championship at Hyderabad, DG Rangers Squash Championship-2015 at Karachi and Rehana Nazar Rasheedabad Junior Squash Championship-2015.” Recently he threatened the players, if they participated in Karachi Games 2015, they would face ban for two years. Despite his threats, the players participated in Karachi Games. In the presence of players and parents at national coaching center, he sent message through coach that the participating players would face serious consequences. –Staff Reporter
The matter was discussed during the SSA general council meeting held on 24-5-2015 at Karachi, where it was decided to take legal action against Tahir. On the ground of misappropriation of funds, working against the spirit of SSA constitution and non-compliance of notices sent to him, SSA president Haji Muzaffar Ali Shujra imposed ban on Tahir for 10 years. The ban includes he can't participate in any capacity as player, officials, referee and organiser at local, national and international level.
“The SSA has also written a letter to Pakistan Squash Federation (PSF) and told them not to support illegal person, body, SSA and POA duly recognize our body. I hope the federation will allow genuine body to work freely,” Amir concluded.
When this scribe contacted Tahir to seek his point of in this regard, despite repeated attempts, his cell was powered off.

Pakistan cycling team off to Korea
PESHAWAR – Pakistan Cycling Federation (PCF) secretary Syed Azhar Ali Shah has said that national cycling team left for Korea for training under qualified coaches at World Cycling Center, Korea. Azhar said that the PCF cyclists and coach Sabhia and Haroon Rasheed left for Korea to have their training and coaching in the World Cycling Centre-III. “We are thankful to the Korean Cycling Federation (KCF) for extending all out support to the PCF. The KCF is bearing out all expenditure of the Pakistani cycling team visit to Korea.” He said: “Previously, our cyclist and coach got training in Korea and this all happened due to PCF president Munawar Baseer Ahmed’s cordial relations with world cycling bodies including UCI and ACC. The PCF is working hard for the promotion of cycling in Pakistan.”–Staff Reporter