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NEWS & FEATURES

HIGHLIGHTS PAGE 1 - 3

ALI SADPARA - A LEGEND WE LOST PAGE 4 & 5

HIGHLIGHTS W I L S O N C O M P A N Y PakNiEstWaSnL EST pT EoRrts Updates SATURDAYS WITH SLUMS - EPISODE 12 T APABGLEE 6 O F Some Praise-worthy Personalities to C O N T E N T S Athlete in Focus Brighten Your Day! PAGE 7 This month we are wrapping up our podcast series, which CEO's Message • P. 2 included interviews with various athletes across different sports, ranging from rugby to table tennis. The last episode Team Sports - (episode 12) was hosted by our exceptional hosts Rojah The Lead • P. 3 Sheikh (Football Senior Representative) and Talha Ashfaq An Overview (Badminton Senior Representative) and moderated by Ayman GrowiPngA BGusEin e8ss • P. 4 Irfan (General Secretary). This podcast featured Mirza Ali and Ali Saeed Uddin as guests. Tune in to find out more! Editors' Notes Best Employees • P. 5 PAGE 9 Mirza Ali Baig is a Pakistani high-altitude mountaineer and the first Pakistani man to summit the highest peaks in all seven continents of the world. Mirza Ali also founded an NGO, Youth Outreach which aims to promote Gender Equality through education and adventure sports among youth and women in Pakistan Mr. Ali is a professional tourism expert. He is the pioneer who introduced extreme sports to women in Pakistan and made several documentaries related to extreme adventure in Pakistan, particularly women in and other winter sports. Mr. Mirza provides training and organizing expeditions for students from schools, colleges, and universities across Pakistan, putting M I R Z A A L I B A I G his entire effort into promoting mountaineering as sports in Pakistan.

Ali Saeed Uddin is Pakistan’s first international fencer. Mr. Ali has been participating in international sporting events representing Pakistan and also securing top finishes. Having scored Bronze for Pakistan in the 13th South Asian Games 2019, he is currently in training for the Tokyo Olympics. He also won the MKFA ambassador award in 2017. He was the National Champion of Pakistan in 2016-2017; he was listed as the Top 16 Fencer in the UAE in the year 2016. A L I S A E E D U D D I N

By Areej G. Shabbir (Batch of ’22)

SATURDAYS WITH SLUMS - EPISODE 11

Some Praise-worthy Personalities to Brighten Your Day!

= Another amazing episode that was hosted during our podcast se ries, Saturdays with SLUMS, was Episode #11 by Farzaan Ja mil (Rugby Senior Representative) and Fatima Mirza (F ootball Netball Senior Representative) and moderated by Ra mish Rao (Vice President Administration). The guests featured include Kashif Khwaja, Abiha Haider, Hamza Hayyaudin, Muhammad Ali Khan and Shazia Shabbir. If you missed it, no need to fret. You can always watch the episode on our Facebook and Instagram page! Kashif Khwaja has been a regular member and captain of the Pakistan National Rugby team for the past two decades, with numerous titles and achievements to his name. He has also represented the country in Malaysia, Sri Lanka, Thailand etc. K A S H I F K H W A J A

Abiha Haider is the Pakistan football team’s esteemed midfielder. With an LLM degree from the University of London, Abiha has been a regular footballer, who has represented Pakistan in various international tournaments.

A B I H A H A I D E R Hamza Hayyauddin has represented Pakistan in the rugby league as well as in rugby sevens internationally. He has also represented Mad Dogs RFC, Chicago Blaze RFC, and DePaul University RFC in the USA. Additionally, he is also a profound cyclist with a promising cycling career.

H A M Z A H A Y Y A U D D I N Muhammad Ali Khan also known as ‘MAK THE TANK’ is one of Pakistan’s most celebrated Rugby players. He has represented Pakistan in 7s, 10s and 15s format in England and has also played a season for the prestigious Heath Rugby Union. He is a dominating forward, and also sometimes called the powerhouse.

M U H A M M A D A L I K H A N

Shazia Shabbir another celebrated Rugby Player of Pakistan. She has served the country in not only in the field but also as a coach, with the objective of promoting rugby amongst the country’s women, especially in Lodhran.

S H A Z I A S H A B B I R By Areej G. Shabbir (Batch of ’22)

ALI SADPARA

A L E G E N D W E L O S T

It has been almost a month since a group of three mountaineers went missing on one of the notoriously deadly peaks of the world: Pakistan’s own . As we come to terms with the presumed death of Muhammad Ali Sadpara and his colleagues, it is important to remember the life of a brave man, and to celebrate the achievements of an athlete and a versatile climber.

Muhammad Ali Sadpara (1976 – 2021) was a high-altitude mountaineer, the only Pakistani to have climbed eight of the world’s fourteen highest mountains, and the first one to ascent to in winter. He was born in Sadpara, a village in the extreme north (near ); the Himalayan-Baltistan region of Pakistan. Livestock farming is the main source of livelihood in the region, and the area's youth also work as porters with Western mountaineers and adventure tourists who frequent the region each year. Sadpara’s father was a low-grade government employee, and he moved to Skardu so his youngest could receive a good education. It was here that he moved onto climbing. Even as a student, Sadpara showed a passion for mountaineering; he was also a part of the college football team. A journalist, and a close friend of Sadpara, Nasib Ali writes of him,

“He had the physique and the habits of an athlete and was also good in studies. He never failed a class. Since his elder brother never did well in school, his father was keen to get him a good education and that's why he moved him to Skardu.”

Sadpara started his career around 2003 as a high-altitude and assisted in mountain-climbing expeditions. The job of a porter is to carry luggage and other objects on expeditions; and it is a largely unrecognized profession. In fact, Pakistan has a deep history of contributions to mountain expeditions by porters. Amir Mehdi was part of the first ever expeditions to both Nanga Parbat and K2 (in 1953 and 1954 respectively). He and an Italian mountaineer are famous for surviving a night in the highest open bivouac (a temporary shelter or tent) on K2. Fazal Ali was the first man ever to have scaled K2 three times (all without oxygen) and was featured in the Guinness Book of World Records. These instances of accomplished porters speak to the tradition of mountaineering in Pakistan’s Northern areas, and the lack of recognition that it receives. Hamid Hussain, a tour-operator from Skardu who knew Sadpara said of him: “He was brave, and pleasant and very friendly, and he was so physically fit. We trekked together on many occasions, and while there were times when we would run out of breath and collapse, he would still jog up the steep slopes and then shout back at us, asking us to be quick."

Being such a daring climber, Ali Sadpara had seen a lot adversity in his career. He had been in difficult spots before and knew the risks. In a 2019 interview, he said, "I have lost 12 of my 14 colleagues in the mountaineering business. Two of us remain, so my friends now often ask me, Ali, when are you going to die?"

After a Nepalese team climbed K2 in winter, Ali Sadpara was keen to do it too (and without oxygen) because according to his son, he believed it was “our mountain”. He teamed up with his son, an Icelandic, and a Chilean mountaineer, and they left the highest camp on the evening of 4 February 2021. His son’s condition worsened as the party hit the bottleneck (a spot 300m from the summit, also known as the “death zone”). Sadpara instructed him to use an emergency oxygen cylinder, but it malfunctioned, and thus his son Sajid had to turn back. His father, along with the two other mountaineers, continued to ascend the bottleneck. Sajid saw them climb over the dangerous bottleneck, which means that they probably climbed to the summit.

According to experts, most accidents happen on the descent as even the slightest misstep can send you crashing down thousands of meters. However, those who knew Sadpara, refuse to make that surmise. Locals still recall stories of his heroics; once carrying an injured goat down a mountain to take it to the vet, rather than killing it. Another theory is perhaps one of his partners was met with an accident, and Sadpara stayed to find a way to help them. Unfortunately, the details of their tragic fate may never be discovered. On last Thursday, a military-led search operation was called off, after they combed the mountain for signs of the climbers. On 18 February 2021, Ali Sadpara was declared dead; “K2 has embossed my father forever”, said Sajid.

It is important to not romanticize the loss of a brave and conscientious man. Ali Sadpara was as much a hero in his life as he was in his death. As a country, we have a habit of recognizing the Shaheen that rule over the peaks of mountains only after their demise, and sadly Ali Sadpara is one of them. His athletic feats serve as a reminder of the potential that humans have, and his death is a heartbreaking bookend to a remarkable life. We must also remember Ali Sadpara not only as a professional and an expert, but a loving and joyful personality, an anchor for his family. After the declaration of his father’s death, Sajid Sadpara said:

"To all the climbers... who look up to him. I promise I will carry on his dreams and mission and continue to walk in his footsteps."

By Ahmer Nadeem Khan (Batch of ’24)

PAKISTAN’S MEN CRICKET TEAM BECOMES THE FIRST TEAM TO WIN 100 T20I MATCHES.

Pakistan chased down 165 runs in the 3rd match of t20 to win the series against South Africa. Pakistan not only won T20 series, but it became the first men’s international team to win 100 t20 matches. South Africa lost 6 PICTURE SQUARE GWADAR STADIUM crucial wickets in the first 10 overs of the match, and it was at HOLDS FIRST EXHIBITION MATCH a tottering position of 46/6 when Miller came to rescue the Proteas Cricket fans around the world were astonished and in at no. 6. He smashed 85 runs off just 45 deliveries, taking South awe of the beauty of Gwadar Stadium as its pictures Africa to 164-8. But the efforts of became viral around the globe. Its plush green grass Miller were not enough to stop underneath clear blue sky and surrounded by Pakistan from claiming the series against South Africa. Babar mesmerizing mountains make this ground a picture of Azam’s 44 runs and Mohammad beauty. This cricket stadium, amidst the coastal Rizwan’s 42 gave a good start to mountains, held its first exhibition match on February 19, Pakistan’ innings. However, South Africa’s left arm spinner, Tabraiz 2021, played between Showbiz Sharks and Gwadar Shamsi’s magic in the middle Dolphins. The match was hosted by singer-actor of over proved to be fatal for the Pakistan, Fakhr e Alam, and it was dedicated to the Pakistan’s batting order as he took his first t20 four-wickets Pakistan’s iconic and well renowned mountaineer, Ali haul, while conceding just 25 Sadpara, who was declared dead by his family and runs. Due to Shamsi’s magic and the spell of other South African authorities on February 18, 2021. Players of both the bowlers, Pakistan was at a crucial teams prayed for the higher ranks of Ali Sadpara and stage with 16 runs needed in the acknowledged his services for Pakistan and final 2 overs. But tail-ender Hassan Ali’s two sixes and a four mountaineering community. Certain authorities were also helped Pakistan clinch the t20i present and participated in the match. As the British High series against South Africa. Commissioner to Pakistan, Christian Turner, presided over Pakistan not only became the first men’s international team to the coin toss at the stadium, and Syed Zulfi Bukhari, a score 100 wins in T20 politician, played the match from Gwadar Dolphins. internationals, but it also beat the South Africa’s unbeaten Asia Although Showbiz Sharks won the match, but that day, record in T20s series. Gwadar and its mesmerizing beauty stole the show!

By Muhammad Muzammil Javed (Batch of ’22) By Muhammad Muzammil Javed (Batch of ’22)

“ TAKE EVERY ATHLETE IN FOCUS: OPPORTUNITY MARIAM ALI YOU GET, AND (BATCH OF ’22) NEVER THINK YOU ARE NOT GOOD ENOUGH "

Mariam Ali, a member of the LUMS Female Swimming Team has been passionate about swimming since childhood. She started swimming at the age of only 6, but it wasn’t until 5th grade, when she attended a summer camp in Karachi that she learnt proper swimming techniques and started competing in tournaments. After winning several swimming competitions at her club and at school, she realized she was good at the sport, and the passion of swimming inside her started to grow even more. She continued to participate in competitions and won by huge margins.

However, one of the biggest challenges she faced was when she moved to Lahore; there was no swimming pool at her school here, and no swimming team. “My training and competing came to a halt”. She started swimming at the Lahore Gymkhana club but that was just for recreation and fun. It was only when Mariam joined the LUMS swimming team that she got the opportunity to start training and racing again, but by this time both her stamina and speed had dropped a lot.

She started putting in double the effort into swimming after joining the LUMS team to get back to her original times. She said it was not easy training for 2 hours continuously, and eating 4 boiled eggs a day, and “sometimes after a tiring day at LUMS, a 2-hour training seemed impossible!”, yet despite all that, her times were not improving. She said, “At one point I thought of giving up on competing because even after so much effort I was no longer the fastest, and there were so many other swimmers who were faster than me with half the effort”. However, swimming was something she loved, and it had the power to uplift her mood even on the worst days and energized her, so she kept going back to the pool and kept training with the coach.

At last, all the hard work and dedication towards her sport finally paid off in 2019, when Mariam participated in the HEC competition and won a gold medal. But she did not just stop there; later she was selected for the Nationals to represent HEC. According to Mariam Ali, “being a national level swimmer has been a huge achievement for me.” Apart from LUMS swimming team, she has also been swimming for her club in Lahore and has also worked as a swimming trainer where she has taught kids how to swim.

Mariam says that despite the fact that trainings are hard and require a lot of energy, after swimming she feels refreshed. She says that swimming “keeps me fit, healthy, and active, but most importantly: happy”. It gives her peace and tranquility, and the perfect boost of adrenaline. Mariam Ali is hopeful that sports activities will start again very soon with full swing after a long break of 1 year, and she is hopeful that she would, once again, be able to start proper swimming trainings. Her advice to upcoming players is to “take every opportunity you get, and never think you are not good enough. If you are passionate about your sport and it makes you happy, then even if the other players are way ahead of you, just keep working hard, and take every opportunity that opens your way, and you will reach unbelievable milestones, and also make lifelong friendships on the way!” By Maheen Orfi (Batch of ’24)

T E A M S S P O R T S - A N O V E R V I E W L U M S B O X I N G T E A M

"The LUMS boxing team is extremely supportive and sticks together like a family. LUMS boxing team did not have a coach, instead, they had senior team members who were like a coach to them, who would teach them and guide them at every stage. Jibran Khalil, LUMS boxing team captain, remembers his first fight around a roaring crowd, where he fought his friend. He recalls that the team was supporting both, and he could hear them, guiding and motivating them throughout the fight. “A good team gives you a strong backbone, they give you the strength to push “Boxing is a sport through the most difficult moments,” says Jibran. that requires great Just before the campus closed in March due to Covid-19, the dedication and a boxing team had gotten a team coach. strong team. Your Things started to get even better for the team, as now they had a team will support coach to train them. Not only that, but the Boxing team was you, train with you about to participate in an off-campus match soon, and the whole and teach you and team was so excited about that. Unfortunately, the rise of Covid- 19 around the world made this opportunity of the LUMS boxing even when you are team to perform in an off-campus match a dream which never fighting your came true. The boxing team captain acknowledged that the opponent, you are unfortunate rise of Covid has significantly impacted their training as boxing is a contact sport, hence it is banned. However, the not alone.” whole team is hopeful that, in the near future, they would be able to perform and train with the same vigor as before, as a group, – Jibran Khalil and as individuals. (LUMS Boxing Team Captain). By Muqsit Nadeem (Batch of ’24)

L E I S U R E M A T C H E S

Before Covid-19 sports at SLUMS were played with full fervor. Matches for various sporting events were held on a daily basis for tournaments and sometimes just for fun and leisure. It served as a necessary means of escape from the hectic routine of classes and gave students an opportunity to create lifelong friendships with teammates and fellow athletes. Suddenly, everything came to a halt in March 2020. The cricket grounds, football fields, tennis courts, badminton courts and the swimming pool all became vacant. Not a single soul could be seen on these grounds that were previously bursting with energy. This lull continued through the many months that education was online throughout the world. Finally, as the situation eased, SLUMS took the initiative to organize a much-awaited cricket match just for leisure, aiming to revive the spirit of the society while maintaining strict SOPs.

The match began and it felt as though everyone was in tune with the sportsmen around them. They all become one; the players identifying each other’s emotions like their own. It seemed to form a family that everyone was an active part of.

As the game was about to come to an end, the emotions among the players were skyrocketing with excitement, dread, hopefulness, and determination. Usually feelings are being thrown out, some to the depths of the ground, others to the sky. These feelings are vastly different. Going to one side, the atmosphere will make one want to sigh in defeat and walk away without looking back. On the other side, the atmosphere is swirling around with pure happiness and excitement. There always definitely seems to be a thick line between winning and losing. However, this time everyone was a winner because after months of zero physical activity SLUMS was successfully able to lift the spirits of the society and create important bonds between freshmen.

As we all are aware that physical activity improves immunity, decreases inflammation, and decreases viral respiratory infections that are apparent in COVID-19 sufferers, sports is much a needed activity for students while following SOPs of course. We are happily looking forward to a more regular series of events in the coming months.

Hadia Qayuum (Batch of ’24)

E D I T O R S ' N O T E S

Hi there! Hoping your semester is going well and you're hanging on in there. I'm happy to bring you the second edition of our newsletter and hope you can unwind and enjoy a light read by catching up on updates from our talented LUMS athletes, as well as highlighting some of our national heroes. Our team did a fantastic job, especially amidst deadlines and assignments, and you'll be sure to learn more about our athletes through the lens of SLUMS. A R E E J G . S H A B B I R Now kick back, relax, and have a good read!

Hello There, I’m Muzammil, one of the editors for this month’s newsletter. Our team has worked really hard to present to you this month’s newsletter in which you will get to know more about LUMS sports teams and their champions. And as you flip through the pages, you will find articles on the underrepresented national athletes of Pakistan, stories of our legends, and what not! I hope you take out the time to read what this amazing newsletter has to offer.

Adieu! M U Z A M M I L J A V E D