Sports Events in Pakistan

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Polo is a sports of the elite in Pakistan, but is gaining popularity fast. It is played in all the major cities of Pakistan - Karachi, Lahore, Rawalpindi, Peshawar and many small cities of northern region.

Polo is fast developing as a family oriented spectator sports. It is a good to see families coming to the ground, cheering their teams and the children playing their own games at the sides.

A local, more fierce, and more popular version of polo is played in the northern areas of Pakistan. The best venue to watch that version is the Shandur Polo Festival held in the mountain valleys of Gilgit in late spring. This picture from the National Geographic's issue of 1980, shows the rougher version being played. The most impressive part is when the game starts a rider gallops his horse for few hundred meters, lobs the ball in the air and then strikes the ball with the stick.

Pakistan qualified for the Polo World Cup to be played in France in 2004. The qualifying round played in Lahore in late 2003 was very competitive with 2 of the 3 best teams in the zone - Australia, India and Pakistan - equally poised to move ahead. Unfortunately, the Indian team that was definitely the best, lost to both Australia and Pakistan in overtime sudden death play even though it beat other competitors by biggest margins.

For Pakistanis, it was definitely a good development. the country is passing through difficult international and political times and it was good to see that we had some moments to cheer about.

Equipment: For those who would like to try their hands at the international version of polo, many clubs of Lahore and Rawalpindi will allow them to do so.

For the local extreme sports version of polo, one will have to travel to the northern mountaneous areas of Pakistan where the villagers will gladly lend them their ponies and few tips.

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Bonjour mon ami,

On Baltoro glacier, it's a demanding trek and one should be enough fit for that, I'm talking about the trekkers, but there's much responsibility, comes on the shoulders of a tour leader, either inbound or outbound.

But there's an advantage that you gain the altitide gradually, so there're less chances of falling prey to AMS or altitude sickness but better to keep a pace, suitable to your body, no hassel.

So you begin from Skardu 2500 m, to Askole, 5 hrs drive, camping.
The trek begins after Askole, it's an open area so better to start early, just to avoid sun, to Korofon camp or Julla.

Then next day to paiyuu or Skomtsok camp, but the baltoro glacier begins after Paiyyu, when an ascent takes you over the moraines and then to Khupurse or Urdukas camp, here it goes above 4000 m, the layer of Oxygen gets thinner after that and after Urdukuas, the ice trek begins so better to have some walking sticks because during the day time, it melts and gets slippery.

Once yopu get closer to Udrdukas, the Trango Series welcomes you, where the immense Trango Towers, inviting the climbers and adventurers, nice snaps could be taken if the weather's clear.

After Urdukas, one'll approach Goro 1,11 camps, night's pretty chilly here because you'll have to camp over ice.

then next day Concordia, wherefrom you'd be able to see Broad peak (faichan kangri 8047 m), K2 8611 m,in thefront and Mitre peak 6010m, in the back'll greet you.

After camping at Concordia, you can approach K2 and Broad peak base camps and come back for overnight at Concordia or Broad peak base camp.

There're extra days, like one at paiyuu camp,which'll help you to acclimatize with the altitude, so you'll absolutely fine.

There're 13, 14 trekking days in the itinerary.

last year, when I was making it, I was runnig and playing soccer for more than a month, so I didn't have any problem, this year, I'll have to make a trek in Kalash during the Kalash festival next month.

I wish you all the best,

Imran Schah

Photos of Trango series, on Baltoro trek
http://www.flickr.com/photos/imranthetrekker

It is the oldest golf club in Karachi. The course was turfed, landscaped, and filled with greenery, making it one of the largest green areas in Karachi. The Karachi Golf Club was an affiliate of the Sindh Club in 1888 and registered as an independent club in 1891.
The course was relocated to the present site in 1953. In 1991. The 18 holes Green Course was created a year later and in 1993 nine more holes were built. The three courses are now referred as the Blue, Yellow and Red Courses.
Very well maintained golf course which is a pride for the karachi. Locals have lot of interest for the game.

Equipment: Golf set and caddies can be provided by the management on hire basis. The green fee for non members foreigners is as under:-

9 HOLES (WEEK DAYS) 600.00
18 HOLES (WEEK DAYS) 1,200.00
9 HOLES (SATURDAY- 750.00
SUNDAY & HOLIDAYS)
18 HOLES (SATURDAY- 1,500.00
SUNDAY & HOLIDAYS)

Completed in 1926 by Rawalpindi Golf Club, one of the oldest golf clubs of Pakistan, founded on 2nd November 1885. Elegant clubhouse with panoramic views over Faisal Mosque, the twin cities of Islamabad and Rawalpindi and the golf course. This course is very famous for the beautiful landscaped fairways and well maintained greens.
It is a 18 holes golf course which has the future expansion of another 9 holes. It is known as HOME for the Golfers. The offices of Pakistan Golf Federation are also located in the area.
Major national and international tournaments are held annually with record number of golfers participating.

Equipment: Lot of facilities of caddies and coach are available. Golf kits can be hired from the club house.

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Bhurban is a small village and a hill station in Punjab, Pakistan about 15Km from Murree Hills and about 70 KMs from Islamabad. The course is situated 6000 feet above sea level, adjacent to Pearl Continental Resort Bhurban . It is nine hole beautiful landscaped golf course. While playing at this course you enjoy the surrounding and the beauty of pine trees in the back ground. It is worth visiting by golfer tourists who happen to stay in PC Bhurban hotel. The Hotel has made arrangements with the management to entertain their guests on very nominal charges.
Bhurban Golf Course overlooks the Azad Kashmir Valley and snow capped Nanga Parbat Peak (8125 m) in the distance.
Some major tournaments of the country are held here.

Equipment: The course can provide Golf kits on very nominal charges

on every corner every piece of land you will see males of all ages playing cricket some with home made bats and the plastic ball from the inner of a kite ball of string they are all over, some play football but far and few

Polo is very famous sport in the Northern areas of Pakistan (Gilgit, Chitral, Skardu). This game is beleived to be originated in this part of the world. The greatest tournament takes place in shandur, the highest polo ground in the world, during the summer time.

Although hockey is the national game of the country, but Pakistan is cricket crazy country. In major urban centres like Karachi and Lahore where full-sized cricket fields are a rare luxury, it is not uncommon to see cricket being played in narrow lanes and streets of the city.

Pakistan had won world cup of cricket in 1992 and runners up in many occasions.