By Asif Naveed:
SPORTS DESK (MNN) – The Pakistan Army asserted their dominance at the National Games on Sunday, securing 12 gold medals in a commanding all-round display, led notably by outstanding performances in taekwondo and shooting.
A major portion of their medal haul came from the taekwondo Poomsae events, where Army athletes completely outclassed the competition, winning eight golds across various age groups.
Among women, Sana Sabir (U-50), Naila (U-30), Mehar-un-Nisa (U-40) and Zeena Sheraz (U-20) all clinched top honours. Their male counterparts — Adil Hussain (U-30), Mohammad Mumtaz (U-40), Irshad Ali (U-50) and Syed Zohaib (U-20) — matched their success with gold medals of their own.
On the shooting ranges, a close contest unfolded between Army and Navy, with both securing three gold medals each. Navy excelled in the 10m air pistol competitions as Rabia Kabir (232.2) edged out Army’s Rimsha Nadeem (231.6) for individual gold, later teaming with Rasam Gul and Hadia Liaquat to claim the team title.
Army responded with victory in the 25m rapid fire pistol through Mohammad Shabbir, while Navy’s trio—G.M. Bashir, Maqbool Hussain and Abdul Quddus—secured the rapid-fire team gold.
Army also dominated the skeet Olympic competitions, with Imam Haroon leading the way with a score of 49.
Sindh clinch first-ever gold in dramatic women’s netball final
One of the most gripping moments of the day came from Sindh’s women’s netball team, who stunned favourites Wapda 20–12 to capture their first gold of the Games.
Sindh captain Quratulain called the victory “even sweeter” given their limited resources compared to departmental teams. Team-mate Huma added that greater support could unlock even more success.
The final was marred by tempers flaring. A third-quarter collision led to shoving, and an expletive gesture by a Wapda player provoked the crowd. At the final whistle, both Wapda and bronze medallists Army walked off without handshakes and later shouted “losers” to drown out Sindh’s celebrations.
Sindh coach Humaira Huma said her players trained only for a month and desperately need a dedicated practice court.
In contrast, the men’s final was a clean, intense battle where Army edged Navy 27–26 in the dying moments to take gold.
Army overpower hosts in basketball
Army’s men routed Sindh 97–62 in basketball despite a fired-up home crowd. Sindh started brightly but faded as Army’s towering 7’3″ centre Taglub Ammar took control.
Top-scorer Shiraz Aslam said the crowd’s energy fuelled the high-intensity match. Sindh conceded about 20 points from free throws due to their physical style.
In women’s basketball, the dominant forces stayed dominant.
Army crushed Balochistan 56–6, while Wapda, led by Kainat Zafar, beat KP 66–24.
Wapda women crush Balochistan in hockey
Wapda’s women’s hockey team demolished Balochistan 18–0, with ten different scorers contributing.
In badminton, stars Mahoor Shahzad (Wapda) and Palwasha Bashir (Sindh) led their sides into the semi-finals. KP’s Murad Ali, Pakistan’s top-ranked player, guided his team into the last four, while Army, Punjab and Police also advanced.
There was history in fencing as HEC’s Abdul Mussawir won gold, ending Balochistan’s hopes in the final.
Rugby, volleyball, baseball, softball and table tennis also began on Sunday as the Games continue across Karachi. Army look to extend their medal lead, while provincial teams like Sindh aim for more breakthrough performances.
