ISLAMABAD – Pakistani weightlifter Saima Shahzad won the gold medal in the 61-kilogram category at the second Asian Masters and World Masters Grand Prix 2026, held in Islamabad.
The six-day event ran from October 20 to 25 at the Liaquat Gymnasium in the Pakistan Sports Complex. It was organised by the Pakistan Masters Weightlifting Association in collaboration with the Pakistan Sports Board. Organisers had expected around 250 athletes from 21 countries to take part.
Saima Shahzad has also previously won a bronze medal for Pakistan in the 55-kilogram category of the weightlifting competitions at the 13th South Asian Games (SAG) in 2019.
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England are world champions, and they earned their moment through nerve, quality and an unshakeable refusal to accept defeat. Against tournament hosts the United States, the Para Lions overturned a late deficit to win 2–1 after extra time, bringing a glorious conclusion to their campaign in Georgia.
IFCPF Men’s World Cup Final 2026
For head coach Jack Rutter and his players, this was the reward for years of ambition, preparation and persistence. England’s first World Cup title in cerebral palsy football belongs to a squad whose performances deserve a prominent place in the nation’s sporting celebrations.
The final supplied the drama. After a goalless first half, the Americans broke through from a corner in the 56th minute. With regulation time almost exhausted, England faced the prospect of seeing their dream disappear within touching distance of the trophy.
Sam Dewhirst supplied the answer, equalising in stoppage time to force an additional period. Then came David Porcher’s decisive intervention: after Dewhirst’s effort was pushed away, Porcher converted the rebound. England protected their advantage and completed a turnaround worthy of a World Cup final.
Rutter’s assessment captured both the emotion and the work behind the achievement.
“It feels unbelievable,” he said, before praising the sacrifices made by players and staff. Appointed in January, the former England player had guided the team to the summit in his first major tournament as head coach.
His experience gave the occasion particular resonance. Having represented the Para Lions between 2013 and 2018, Rutter understood the long pursuit of international success. He also highlighted goalkeeper Giles Moore’s contribution against the Americans, praising the saves that helped keep England in contention.
England had already demonstrated their credentials throughout the competition. Victories over Japan, Indonesia and the Republic of Ireland brought a perfect group record. The knockout rounds demanded different qualities, with an extra-time victory over the Netherlands followed by a controlled semi-final win against Brazil.
That combination of attacking confidence and competitive resilience made England compelling champions. They could impose themselves when opportunities opened, but also withstand the pressure of matches in which a single moment could settle everything.
The achievement adds a memorable chapter to a sport with deep international roots. The first international cerebral palsy football competition took place in Edinburgh in 1978, during the third Cerebral Palsy International Games. The first World Championships followed in Denmark in 1982.
The International Federation of Cerebral Palsy Football, known as IFCPF, became the sport’s independent governing body in January 2015. Governance transferred from the Cerebral Palsy International Sports and Recreation Association, which had overseen its development for 37 years.
The modern World Cup continues that earlier championship tradition, providing a global stage for elite national teams. England hosted the senior IFCPF World Championships in 2015, while the women’s game reached an important milestone with its inaugural World Cup in 2022, won by the United States.
Men’s CP football features seven players per side, smaller pitches and goals, and two halves of 30 minutes. There is no offside, while players may roll the ball into play instead of using a conventional throw-in. Eligible athletes include players with cerebral palsy, acquired brain injury and stroke-related impairments.
Those adaptations produce an absorbing contest demanding technique, tactical intelligence and teamwork. England’s triumph offers an excellent invitation for new supporters to discover it.
The opportunity now is to turn celebration into lasting attention: fuller coverage, stronger support for development and more chances for young players to find their way into the game.
For children watching these champions, an England shirt can become a tangible ambition. Dewhirst, Porcher, Moore and their teammates have given that ambition faces, names and unforgettable moments.
Above all, this was a victory to savour on its sporting merits. England met pressure with composure and disappointment with determination. When the final demanded something extraordinary, the Para Lions found it—and brought the World Cup home.
LAHORE – Pakistan will look to tighten their grip on tri-nation ODI series as hosts take on struggling English side at Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore today (Sunday), with the visitors desperate to end their losing streak and keep their hopes alive in the tournament.
The fourth match of tri-series is slated to start at 1:00 PM, bringing international cricket action back to Lahore after the opening three encounters were played in Rawalpindi.
Pakistan enter contest brimming with confidence after winning both of their opening matches in convincing fashion. The Green Shirts launched their campaign with a 37-run victory over Sri Lanka before crushing England by 87 runs in their second outing, establishing themselves as the team to beat in the three-nation competition.
October 25 clash will carry special message beyond cricket field, as Pakistan’s players will wear pink kits to support a cancer awareness campaign, adding significance to the high-profile encounter.
For England, the situation is becoming increasingly difficult. The visitors have yet to register a single victory in the tournament, having suffered back-to-back defeats against Pakistan and Sri Lanka. After being comprehensively outplayed by Pakistan, England came agonisingly close to bouncing back against Sri Lanka in the third match, only to suffer another heartbreaking defeat as the islanders secured a thrilling two-wicket victory.
The two sides have set the stage for an intriguing showdown in Lahore, where Pakistan will be targeting a third consecutive victory while England will be fighting to revive their campaign.
The tri-nation ODI series, featuring Pakistan, England and Sri Lanka, has now shifted from Rawalpindi to Lahore, with Gaddafi Stadium set to host all remaining matches, including the much-anticipated final.
Shaheen Shah Afridi (c), Abrar Ahmed, Salman Ali Agha, Arafat Minhas, Babar Azam, Faheem Ashraf, Fakhar Zaman, Muhammad Ghazi Ghori (wk), Haris Rauf, Hasan Nawaz, Naseem Shah, Razaullah, Saad Baig (wk), Saim Ayub, Shadab Khan and Sufiyan Moqim.
Harry Brook (c), Gus Atkinson, Sonny Baker, Tom Banton, James Coles, Jordan Cox, Mason Crane, Henry Crocombe, Sam Curran, Liam Dawson, Ben Duckett, Will Jacks, Jamie Overton, Adil Rashid, Joe Root and Josh Tongue.
Oct 18 Pakistan vs Sri Lanka Rawalpindi Pakistan won by 37 runs
Oct 20 Pakistan vs England Rawalpindi Pakistan won by 87 runs
Oct 22 Sri Lanka vs England Rawalpindi Sri Lanka won by 2 wickets
Oct 25 Pakistan vs England Lahore Today
Oct 27 Pakistan vs Sri Lanka Upcoming
Oct 29 Sri Lanka vs England Upcoming
Oct 31 Final (Top 2 teams) Upcoming
The post Pakistan eye 3rd Straight Win as England face Do-or-Die Clash in Lahore ODI Today appeared first on Daily Pakistan English News.
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