The 15th Women’s National Softball Championship begins in Karachi

The Essa Lab 15th Women’s National Softball Championship kicked off with a lively and grand opening ceremony at the KMC Sports Complex. The event was officially inaugurated by the Chief Guest, District Minister for Excise and Taxation Mr. Mukesh Kumar Chawla, who opened the championship with a ceremonial success.

The opening ceremony was attended by a distinguished gathering of sports executives, officials and representatives from national sports bodies. Among the prominent attendees was Mr. Khalid Mehmood, Secretary General of the Pakistan Olympics (POA). Ms. Ronak Lakhani, President Special Olympics Pakistan. Ms. Yasmin Hyder, President Softball Federation of Pakistan (SFP); Ms. Tehmina Asif, SFP President. Mr Naseem Khan, General Secretary SFP; Mr. Zeeshan Merchant, Organizing Secretary of the Championship. and Hannah Farhan Essa, CEO, Essa Laboratories.

This year’s championship features six teams from across the country, including Pakistan Army, Pakistan WAPDA, Pakistan Police, Balochistan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and host team Sindh. Their presence reflects the growing interest and commitment to women’s sports in Pakistan.

Speaking on the occasion, Chief Guest Mr. Mukesh Kumar Chawla lauded the efforts of Pakistan Softball Federation and Essa laboratories for their role in promoting women sports. She stated that female athletes in Pakistan continue to excel and events like this provide young girls with opportunities to progress and bring pride to the nation. He reiterated that the Sindh government would continue to fully support initiatives aimed at the development of women’s sports.

POA Secretary General Mr. Khalid Mehmood also congratulated the Organizing Committee for the successful organization of the championship. He highlighted the rapid growth of softball in Pakistan and recognized the remarkable progress shown by the female players. He added that the Pakistan Olympic Association appreciates the efforts of the Softball Federation and its partners in preparing women athletes for national and international competitions.

The ceremony concluded with the official presentation of the participating teams and the recognition of the contribution of the officials, sponsors and supporting bodies that played a decisive role in making the championship possible.