KARACHI: Pakistan will host its first golf tournament with the Asian Tour in 11 years, organizers announced Tuesday, as international sports gradually returns to a terror-hit country where security has improved.
The Chief of Naval Staff Open Golf Championship is set to tee off from July 24 to 27 in Karachi, attracting a talented cast of Asian Tour stars to the $300,000 (34.59 million rupees) event.
“Our talented members are excited to return to Pakistan,” said Josh Burack, Asian Tour Chief Executive Officer, in a statement.
Regular Asian Tour events have been absent in the country since 2008, when a tournament was canceled over security concerns amid a wave of militant attacks across Pakistan.
All international sporting events were later suspended in Pakistan following an attack on the Sri Lankan cricket team bus in Lahore in March 2009.
But successful military operations in the country’s northwest and urban centers have largely beaten back militant groups and dramatically improved security nationwide.
As a result, the country has hosted back-to-back Pakistan Super League cricket starting in 2017, in addition to a limited over series against Zimbabwe, the World XI and Sri Lanka.
Pakistan’s Chief of Naval Staff Zafar Abbasi, whom the tournament is named after, lauded the return of the Asian Tour.
“This is great news for golf in Pakistan. We are thrilled to welcome the Asian Tour and its talented members to our beautiful country,” said Abbasi.
Pakistan hosted its first Asian Tour event in 1989, which was won by Filipino star Frankie Minoza.
The country’s only Asian Tour winner remains Taimur Hussain who triumphed at an event in Myanmar in 1998.
Pakistan tees up first Asian Tour golf event in 11 years
Pakistan tees up first Asian Tour golf event in 11 years
- The Chief of Naval Staff Open Golf Championship is set to tee off from July 24 to 27 in Karachi.
- Pakistan’s only Asian Tour winner remains Taimur Hussain who triumphed at an event in Myanmar in 1998.
Dubai Basketball with statement win in Paris
- A dominant 99-79 win sealed a strong 3-match stint on the road
DUBAI: Dubai Basketball capped off a demanding three-game road stretch in emphatic fashion, delivering a dominant 99-79 victory over Paris Basketball in Round 24 of the EuroLeague last night. The win marked Dubai’s second victory from three away fixtures across EuroLeague and ABA League play, while also preserving the club’s unbeaten record in the ABA League.
Facing Paris at Adidas Arena, Dubai produced one of its most complete performances of the season. From the opening minutes, the visitors imposed their authority at both ends of the floor, controlling tempo, disrupting Paris offensively, and steadily extending their advantage as the game progressed. The victory improved Dubai Basketball’s EuroLeague record to 11–13.
The Paris result followed a narrow EuroLeague defeat just days earlier in Barcelona, where Dubai pushed one of Europe’s elite sides to the final seconds in a thrilling 91:89 loss at Palau Blaugrana. Despite trailing entering the fourth quarter, Dubai mounted a remarkable comeback to level the game late, showcasing resilience in a hostile environment. McKinley Wright IV delivered a career-high 29 points in that contest, while the game also marked the EuroLeague return of Dzanan Musa following injury.
Dubai’s road trip began on Jan. 17 with a commanding 110-93 win over U-BT Cluj-Napoca in Round 15 of the ABA League. In front of a packed arena, Dubai pulled away late to secure the victory and maintain a perfect league record. Kabengele and Wright led the scoring with 24 points apiece, while Musa made a timely impact in the fourth quarter during his return from a three-month absence.
Across three challenging away fixtures in six days, Dubai Basketball claimed two road victories, remained unbeaten in ABA League competition, and reinforced its ability to compete consistently across multiple fronts, closing the stretch with a statement performance in Paris that highlighted the team’s growing presence on the European stage.
On Jan. 26, the team will take on Serbian side FMP in front of home fans at Coca-Cola Arena as their “invincible” attempt continues with a 13-0 run.
