Latest news with #MuhammadArif
The Sun
05-07-2025
- Sport
- The Sun
Karate champion Arif Afifuddin targets Asian Games 2026 gold comeback
GEORGE TOWN: National karate exponent Muhammad Arif Afifuddin Ab Malik is determined to make a comeback from a recent surgery for his anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) tear, to defend his gold medal at the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games 2026. The gold medallist in the men's 84 kilogramme kumite (sparring) event at the 2022 Hangzhou Asian Games is currently undergoing rehabilitation and is confident that he can make a stronger recovery in the next six months before his knee is fully healed in 10 months, according to the head coach. 'I suffered an ACL injury at the K1 Series A Championship in Salzburg, Austria after being taken down in the first round earlier this year and I have just undergone surgery for it. 'I am now focusing on physiotherapy and rehabilitation. Hopefully, I will come back stronger by next year,' he told Bernama at the Penang State Sports Awards 2023/2024 ceremony at the Amari Food Gallery near here today. At the ceremony, the 26-year-old athlete was crowned Penang 2023/2024 Sportsman of the Year and received a trophy and cash prize of RM4,000 presented by state executive councillor for Youth, Sports and Health, Daniel Gooi Zi Sen. Commenting on the recognition, Muhammad Arif described the award as a morale booster to continue striving for greater and more prestigious success on the international stage. 'I never thought I would be selected as the Sportsman of the Year because I was nominated before but didn't win. This year, I got it. I am grateful and very happy,' he said. The 1.83-metre tall exponent also expressed his intention to continue his Masters studies in business or sports science in the near future. For the record, Muhammad Arif created history when he won the Hangzhou Asian Games gold medal after defeating 2021 World Championship bronze medallist Daniyar Yuldashev from Kazakhstan 10-4 in the final. Gold medal winner in chess at the 21st Malaysia Games (SUKMA Sarawak), Chua Jia Tien, was crowned Penang Sportswoman of the Year 2023/2024 and her father collected the award on her behalf. Meanwhile, Gooi said the presentation of incentives this year involved 12 categories of major state sports awards including a new category introduced for the first time, which is the Deaf Sports Excellence Award. He said the new award is dedicated to the deaf sports community in Penang and reflects the state's commitment to recognising the achievement of athletes from all walks of life despite physical disability, to instil an inclusive spirit in the development of state sports. 'This incentive is a sign of the state's appreciation for the hard work and commitment of the athletes, promoters and all state sports personnel in raising the prestige of Penang sports,' he said. He also congratulated the state contingent whose medal tally of 41 gold, 45 silver and 53 bronze medals secured fourth place overall at the 21st SUKMA in Sarawak last year, which showed a 39 per cent progress compared to the 20th SUKMA where Penang had to settle for seventh place. The gold medal winner for the chess event at the 10th Asia Pacific Deaf Games Championship (APDG) last year, Loo Pin Xie, 20, received the Deaf Sports Excellence Award. - Bernama
Malay Mail
05-07-2025
- Sport
- Malay Mail
Karate gold medallist Muhammad Arif eyes 2026 Asian Games comeback after ACL surgery
GEORGE TOWN, July 5— National karate exponent Muhammad Arif Afifuddin Ab Malik is determined to make a comeback from a recent surgery for his anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) tear, to defend his gold medal at the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games 2026. The gold medallist in the men's 84 kilogramme kumite (sparring) event at the 2022 Hangzhou Asian Games is currently undergoing rehabilitation and is confident that he can make a stronger recovery in the next six months before his knee is fully healed in 10 months, according to the head coach. 'I suffered an ACL injury at the K1 Series A Championship in Salzburg, Austria after being taken down in the first round earlier this year and I have just undergone surgery for it. 'I am now focusing on physiotherapy and rehabilitation. Hopefully, I will come back stronger by next year,' he told Bernama at the Penang State Sports Awards 2023/2024 ceremony at the Amari Food Gallery near here today. At the ceremony, the 26-year-old athlete was crowned Penang 2023/2024 Sportsman of the Year and received a trophy and cash prize of RM4,000 presented by state executive councillor for Youth, Sports and Health, Daniel Gooi Zi Sen. Commenting on the recognition, Muhammad Arif described the award as a morale booster to continue striving for greater and more prestigious success on the international stage. 'I never thought I would be selected as the Sportsman of the Year because I was nominated before but didn't win. This year, I got it. I am grateful and very happy,' he said. The 1.83-metre tall exponent also expressed his intention to continue his Masters studies in business or sports science in the near future. For the record, Muhammad Arif created history when he won the Hangzhou Asian Games gold medal after defeating 2021 World Championship bronze medallist Daniyar Yuldashev from Kazakhstan 10-4 in the final. Gold medal winner in chess at the 21st Malaysia Games (SUKMA Sarawak), Chua Jia Tien, was crowned Penang Sportswoman of the Year 2023/2024 and her father collected the award on her behalf. Meanwhile, Gooi said the presentation of incentives this year involved 12 categories of major state sports awards including a new category introduced for the first time, which is the Deaf Sports Excellence Award. He said the new award is dedicated to the deaf sports community in Penang and reflects the state's commitment to recognising the achievement of athletes from all walks of life despite physical disability, to instil an inclusive spirit in the development of state sports. 'This incentive is a sign of the state's appreciation for the hard work and commitment of the athletes, promoters and all state sports personnel in raising the prestige of Penang sports,' he said. He also congratulated the state contingent whose medal tally of 41 gold, 45 silver and 53 bronze medals secured fourth place overall at the 21st SUKMA in Sarawak last year, which showed a 39 per cent progress compared to the 20th SUKMA where Penang had to settle for seventh place. The gold medal winner for the chess event at the 10th Asia Pacific Deaf Games Championship (APDG) last year, Loo Pin Xie, 20, received the Deaf Sports Excellence Award. — Bernama
Yahoo
01-07-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
New Energy Discovery Could Help Pakistan Cut Costly Fuel Imports
Pakistan Oilfields Limited (POL) and Oil and Gas Development Company Limited (OGDCL) have announced the successful completion of hydrocarbon production testing at the Makori Deep-03 Development Well in the TAL Block in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Drilling operations reached a final depth of 3,887 meters and yielded 2,112 barrels per day of condensate and 22.08 million standard cubic feet of gas per day (MMSCFD), according to a filing by POL. POL holds a 25% working interest in the block, while OGDCL has a 27.763% stake. Production is expected to commence within the next two months, pending completion of surface infrastructure. Earlier this year, Pakistan and Turkey signed a memorandum of understanding to jointly explore offshore opportunities in Pakistan's territorial waters. While specifics remain under wraps, the Petroleum Division framed the agreement as a platform for attracting foreign direct investment (FDI) and facilitating the transfer of upstream technologies. 'We believe that this strategic collaboration will bring much-needed FDI to Pakistan and pave the way for the sharing and deployment of international technologies, expertise and skillsets,' said the Ministry in a statement issued in April. The country's broader offshore potential has long been touted but remains largely untapped. Local media reports have described the recent discovery as one of the largest in the region, though these claims are not substantiated by international geological surveys. Former Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (OGRA) member Muhammad Arif told Dawn TV that if the find turns out to be a gas reservoir, it could eventually displace costly LNG monetizing these resources will not come cheaply. Exploration alone could require upwards of $5 billion in investment. According to The Economic Times, Pakistan currently imports 85% of its crude oil, 29% of its natural gas, 50% of its LPG, and 20% of its coal. The country's energy import bill stood at $17.5 billion in 2023 and is projected to nearly double by 2030. Energy Minister Mohammad Ali recently estimated that an investment of $25 billion to $30 billion would be sufficient to extract just 10% of the country's estimated 235 trillion cubic feet (TCF) of gas over the next decade. Speaking to reporters in late 2024, Ali suggested that such a development could reverse Pakistan's declining domestic gas production and significantly reduce foreign exchange outflows. But foreign interest remains tepid. A 2023 auction for 18 onshore and offshore oil and gas blocks failed to attract significant international participation. Around the same time, Shell Plc announced it would exit the country, agreeing to sell its Pakistan business to Saudi Aramco as part of a broader restructuring of its global downstream portfolio. Security risks have also complicated Pakistan's energy investment outlook. In March 2024, five Chinese engineers were killed in a suicide attack while working on the Dasu hydropower project in northern Pakistan. Insurgents from the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) also stormed the Gwadar Port Authority complex, targeting Chinese interests in the southwest. The attacks led to the temporary suspension of several projects under the China–Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), Beijing's flagship $62 billion infrastructure initiative in the country. Launched in 2015 as part of China's Belt and Road Initiative, CPEC has poured an estimated $25.4 billion into Pakistan. Its power projects have added around 6,000 megawatts to the national grid and expanded the transmission network by roughly 1,000 kilometers, according to the Pakistan Planning Commission. CPEC has also financed the construction of approximately 500 kilometers of highways, a notable achievement for a country grappling with chronic infrastructure shortfalls. Yet the returns have fallen short of expectations. Pakistan's external debt has ballooned to $100 billion, with roughly one-third owed to China. The country is navigating a severe balance of payments crisis, dwindling foreign exchange reserves, and surging inflation that now approaches 30%. Food prices have risen by more than 40%, and nearly 45% of Pakistan's 250 million citizens live below the poverty line, according to World Bank estimates. In this context, the discovery at Makori Deep-03 is a promising development. However, converting potential into production will demand capital, security guarantees, and political stability, all of which remain in short supply. By Alex Kimani for More Top Reads From this article on Sign in to access your portfolio
Yahoo
10-05-2025
- Yahoo
Gunfire heard in northwest Pakistan
Blasts and gunfire were heard in the northwest Pakistani city of Peshawar Saturday morning. A security official said a local air base had activated its defense system to take down a drone. (AP video by: Muhammad Arif)
Express Tribune
24-02-2025
- Business
- Express Tribune
Price surge hits markets ahead of Ramazan
With Ramadan approaching, markets across Punjab, particularly in Lahore and other urban centres, are witnessing a sharp rise in the prices of essential commodities. The cost of dates, bananas, pomegranates, guavas, apples and melons has surged, making it increasingly difficult for consumers to afford basic food items. Government officials face mounting challenges in controlling price inflation, as demand for fresh produce and seasonal vegetables is expected to rise in the coming weeks. However, the arrival of new onion crops is anticipated to offer some relief. Meanwhile, sugar prices remain a major concern, with the government offering a limited supply at Rs130 per kilogram at designated pointsan initiative that is unlikely to significantly impact open market rates. Consumers continue to bear the brunt of high costs, as price control measures appear ineffective. Adding to the strain, the Punjab government has yet to announce special Ramadan Bazaars, which in previous years provided essential items at subsidized rates. This year, no fair-price shops or subsidies have been introduced, leaving citizens to grapple with soaring prices unaided. Many consumers have expressed frustration over the lack of government intervention. Muhammad Arif, a daily wage worker, lamented that every year before Ramadan, prices skyrocket, making it increasingly difficult for people to afford basic fruits and vegetables when wages remain stagnant. Similarly, Amina Bibi, a homemaker, criticized authorities for failing to enforce price controls, stating that shopkeepers charge whatever they want while ordinary people suffer. She added that Ramadan is supposed to be a time of blessings, but instead, it has turned into a period of financial struggle for many families.
