Quantum of solace: Sports festival brings relief to Mohmand residents

Event sought to revive interest in traditional games

GHALLANAI:

A sports festival was held in Ghallanai in Mohmand Agency on Sunday. The event comes weeks after a spell of violence and militancy gripped the region.

The festival began on March 5 and will continue till March 23. During the festival, a series of marathons were held. Cycling and donkey cart race were arranged to revive interest in traditional games that were played in the region and have gradually fallen out of favour.



A large number of players took part in the festival and people came out of their houses to cheer them on and boost their morale.

The 10-kilometre marathon race commenced from Ghaiba Khwar and ended at Ghallanai Sports Stadium.

Historic moment

Muhammad Fayaz, a 15-year-old, clinched first position in the race.

“The event was a historic moment in my life as I was able to earn Rs15,000 cash prize – a large sum of money,” he told The Express Tribune. “Mohmand Agency has a great deal of talent and the government needs to nurture it. Such events and activities will help hone this talent and provide an opportunity for it to be discovered.”

Siad Wali, another participant, won the donkey cart race. Speaking to The Express Tribune, he said this was the second time that he had won the race.

“I won the donkey cart race for the first time in the sports festival held in Mohmand last year,” he said.

Wali said such festivals and competitions should be organised on an annual basis to encourage people to play sports.

“A majority of games that were traditionally played in Mohmand are losing their significance,” he said. “Young people are more interested in modern sports like cricket.”

Give peace a chance

Speaking to The Express Tribune, Mohmand Political Agent Mehmood Aslam Khan, who was the chief guest on the occasion, said, “Even though the region has witnessed instability, I am glad tribes in Mohmand Agency are active and have not surrendered to militancy.”

He said such festivals are an attempt to rid Federally Administered Tribal Areas of terrorism and unrest.



According to the political agent, the event served as welcome proof that stability can prevail in the agency and urged tribespeople to come forward and take part in peace initiatives in the region.

“The people of Mohmand Agency are not only peace-loving but extremely patriotic,” he said. “They have rendered tremendous sacrifices for restoration of peace.”

Officials of the political administration distributed prizes among the winners, runners up and other participants.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 21^st,  2016.