Australian High Commission
Islamabad
Pakistan

Australian High Commission congratulates Pakistan Netball Federation on a successful ASC Junior National Girls Netball Championship 2011

AUSTRALIAN HIGH COMMISSION
ISLAMABAD
 

28 April 2011

Press Release

Australian High Commission congratulates Pakistan Netball Federation on a successful ASC Junior National Girls Netball Championship 2011

The Australian High Commission congratulated the Pakistan Netball Federation on successful ASC Junior National Girls Netball Championship 2011 in Islamabad today.

The Championship represented the culmination of a four month development program run by the Pakistan Netball Federation that was funded by the Australian Sports Commission (ASC) as part of its Australian Sports Outreach Program (ASOP).

The ASC provided a grant of approximately Rs1.5 million (A$18,000) to fund a coaching and developing program for under 16 girls in several cities and rural areas throughout Pakistan.

Encouraging participation in sport by groups with traditionally low participation rates was a key aim of the Australian Sports Outreach Program. It was particularly pleasing to see the Pakistan Netball Federation’s project reach 2,110 young ladies during its course.

Eight teams from various parts of Pakistan – Lahore, Karachi, Hyderabad, Sargodha, Abbotabad, Peshawar, Quetta, Hamza Foundation (Special Children) – participated in the three-day Championship in Islamabad. At the end of a tightly contested tournament, Karachi defeated Hyderabad by seven points (score, 25-18) in the final.

The Australian High Commission congratulates all of the teams that participated in the Championship, and commends all of the young ladies, officials, coaches and teachers who took part in the project.

The Pakistan Netball Federation’s project is one of several sporting projects the Australian Government has assisted over the past three years. Since 2008-09, the Australian Government has provided more than Rs7 million (equivalent to A$88,500) to various sporting bodies, including the Pakistan Cricket Board and the Pakistan Football Federation.

The Pakistan Netball Federation has received more than Rs4 million (A$50,000) over this time.

The purpose of ASOP is to complement larger community development schemes, especially for youth and women, worldwide through sport and physical activity.

Please contact Mr Peter Bartlett, First Secretary at the High Commission (phone: 051 8355500 and fax: 051 2820189), for more information on ASOP projects in Pakistan. For more information on the Australian Sports Outreach Program and the Australian Sports Commission visit ASC website at www.ausport.gov.au.