ISLAMABAD: Punjab’s Director General of Sports, Khizar Afzaal Chaudhry, has announced a one-year scholarship program for the national team players who recently won the Asian Under-16 Volleyball Championship.
During a congratulatory meeting with the triumphant squad, Chaudhry lauded the players for their historic victory, particularly their stunning performance in the final match against Iran. As part of the scholarship, athletes placed in the Platinum category will receive a monthly stipend of Rs70,000.
He commended the team’s discipline, hard work, and unity, describing their achievement as a proud moment for the country. Chaudhry reaffirmed the Sports Department’s dedication to scouting and supporting young talent, adding that such performances show Pakistan’s growing strength in international sports.
The team’s head coach, Kifayatullah, along with other officials, also attended the event.
Pakistan team to get points as India pulls out of match
Moreover, the high-profile clash between India and Pakistan in the World Championship of Legends (WCL) 2025 has been canceled, adding a layer of complexity to the tournament’s format and raising questions about how future fixtures involving both teams will be handled.
India was scheduled to kick off their WCL 2025 campaign with a blockbuster opening match against arch-rivals Pakistan on Sunday. However, tensions flared as key Indian players—reportedly including Shikhar Dhawan, Irfan Pathan, Harbhajan Singh, and Yuvraj Singh—refused to take part in the match due to ongoing political sensitivities between the two nations. As a result, the organisers were left with no choice but to call off the much-anticipated fixture.
Despite the cancellation, both teams remain in the tournament, and there remains a strong possibility that India and Pakistan could still face each other in the later stages—either in the semifinals or potentially even in the final, depending on how the tournament unfolds.
This situation has placed the WCL organisers in a tricky position, with contingency planning now necessary to address the scenario of a potential rematch.
Scholarships for National Team
Speaking to the media, Pakistan Champions team owner Kamil Khan addressed the uncertainty. He confirmed that the WCL tournament would proceed as per the originally announced schedule, with no immediate changes to the fixture list. “All the remaining matches are taking place. The tournament is going on as per schedule, and there are no changes,” Khan stated.
However, he acknowledged that the issue may resurface if both India and Pakistan qualify for the knockout rounds. “As for the semifinals and final, we’re currently saying that if we make it to the semifinals, there will be four teams, and we will avoid matches between the two teams,” he said, indicating that the organisers may attempt to avoid a direct India-Pakistan faceoff in the knockout stage.
Kamil Khan also confirmed that Pakistan would be awarded 2 points for the canceled match, citing the fact that it was India who had withdrawn from the contest.
“The two points will be awarded to us, and we deserve those points as per the rules,” he emphasized. He added that decisions regarding a potential final involving both teams would be taken only if the situation arises.
