SJAS presents Gold Medal to tennis star Aqeel Khan

KARACHI: The Sports Journalists Association of Sindh (SJAS) have

decorated Pakistan ace tennis star Aqeel Khan with Gold Medal for his

remarkable services for Pakistan, here on Friday at Karachi Gymkhana.

According to details, SJAS organized a Gold Medal Presentation

Ceremony to honor tennis star Aqeel Khan and Presentation of 3rd

Rashid Ali Siddiqui (Late) former president SJAS Talent Award.

On this occasion Aqeel Khan thanked SJAS for presenting him Gold Medal

and congratulated all SJAS members for organizing such a great event.

Aqeel said that Rashid Ali Siddiqui (late) was a great human being,

his services for sports in Sindh was respectful.

The 39-year-old tennis hero further said that encouragement especially

in our country guided players to do well in future.

Aqeel further said that he is ready for upcoming Davis Cup tie against

arch-rivals India in September.

He said “There is no dearth of talent in Pakistan in all sports. Other

sports related players should be encouraged like cricket.”

Aqeel Khan said that sports journalists have put in their untiring

efforts to promote the country’s image.

Earlier, Former Sindh Sports Minister and Patron SJAS, Syed Junaid Ali

Shah addressing on the occasion said that “Aqeel Khan is our legend”.

He said that our best wishes with Aqeel always adding that the

encouragement by SJAS conferring Aqeel Khan with the Gold Medal is

very encouraging and should continue to promote other players too.

“SJAS has also conferred other young athletes by awarding them is a

unique step and I hope they continue this trend for promotion of

sports”, Dr Junaid Ali Shah added.

Another Patron SJAS, Dr Farhan Essa said that SJAS played sigficant

role in sports.

“SJAS going towards right path,” Farhan Essa added.

The patrons also wished Aqeel Khan well for his future assigments.

Former hockey Olympian and newly-appointed Chief Selector of Pakistan

Hockey Federation (PHF), Manzoor Hussai Jr hailed SJAS step to honor

Pakistan No 1 tennis star Aqeel Khan.

He said that former President SJAS, Rashid Ali Siddiqui (late) was a brave man.

Addressing the audience Manzoor Jr lauded the SJAS for it’s efforts to

promote sports and for the betterment of the sports journalists’

community in the province.

He also said that he would launch a talent hunt programme to look out

for the youngsters, who could be groomed to make a strong national

outfit.

“I’ve a plan to start holding open trials in different cities of the

country by the end of September or early October to spot hockey

enthusiasts from 16 years old to 18 years old, who can be trained for

World Cup 2022 and 2024 Olympics,” Manzoor Jr added further.

On this occasion, SJAS awarded Dr Muhammad Ali Shah Gold Medal in

memory of late ex-Sindh Minister Dr Syed Muhammad Ali Shah to senior

sports journalist, Mirza Iqbal Baig.

Mirza Iqbal Baig thanked SJAS for honor this medal.

SJAS given Rashid Ali Siddiqui Talent Award to Pakistan women cricketer

Fatima Sana Khan, Snooker player Zulfiqar Qadir, 8-year-old table

tennis player Arham Bin Farrukh, special athelet Sajida Bibi, Table Tennis 14 years old player Hoor Fahad, SJAS Spaicial Award to Pakistan

top tenpin bowl player Ali Soorya, Guiness World Record Hoelder

Pakistan Mixed Martial Arts champion Mohammad Rashid Naseem.and Captain Pakistan Baseball Team Sheraz Asif.

SJAS also gave Journalists Award to their members Yawar Abbas, Shahzaib Baig,

Alam Zaib Saify, Shahzada Moin, Ali Hassan, Ehsan Khan,and presents to SJAS Shelds EC Members  Imtiaz

Naranja, Mahmood Riaz, Sajjad Khan,Ubaid Awan, Shahid Ali Khan, Mohsin Raza Khan, Hasnain Anwer, Javeed Iqbal, Ishaq Balloch, Umer Shaeen and Kashif

Ahmed Farooqui.

Secretary Sindh Olympic Association Ahmed Ali Rajput, Ex-Secretary

KCCA Jamil Ahmed, Secretary KHA Haider Hussain, Asif Azeem, Muhammad

Aslam Khan, Ghulam Muhammad, Khalid Rehmani, Mohammad Nasim, Engr.

Mahfooz-ul-Haq, senior journalists Rashid Aziz, Syed Nasar Iqbal, Atiq

ur Rehman, Zubair Nazeer and others also present at the ceremony.

Later, President SJAS Tariq Aslam and Secretary Muhammad Asghar Azeem

thanked all the guests and journalists for making the event

successful.