Govt plans to build a sports varsity

Punjab takes lead in interprovincial games

ISLAMABAD: Punjab took the lead in medal positions as the five-day Quaid-i-Azam Interprovincial Games concluded on Friday after three days of tough competitions in teams from the federating units of the country.

In the second Quaid-e-Azam Interprovincial Games a total 574 medals were decided. Punjab province was on top with 74 gold medals. Balochistan won 26 gold medals and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa 21 gold medals.

Speaking at the closing ceremony Federal Minister for Inter Provincial Coordination Riaz Hussain Pirzada said that efforts are in progress to establish the first sports university in the country.



The minister expressed hope that the sports university would play very crucial role in promotion of sports activities in the country.

He said that successful holding of second Quaid-i-Azam Interprovincial Games shows that people were more interested in sports.

He noted that fear of terrorism had dampened the spirits for organising mega-events with public participation. The minister said that the sports grounds were empty because of terrorism in the country, but today again we successfully restored sports activities in grounds.



Pirzada said that players are being given opportunities of foreign exposures. He said that mega international events are taking place in Pakistan.



Five days of sporting

The Quaid-i-Azam Inter Provincial Games-2017 had commenced on Monday with a colourful pageantry at the Liaquat Gymnasium of Pakistan Sports Complex.

Leader of the House in Senate Raja Zafarul Haq performed the opening ceremony of the games.

Hundreds of people from the twin cities of Rawalpindi and Islamabad witnessed the ceremony that featured torch relay to traditional dances and performance of artists.

Over 3,700 players, from all federating units including Punjab, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Sindh, Balochistan, Islamabad, Kashmir, Gilgit-Baltistan and FATA, were in the fight to win 578 medals in 19 different sports contests to be held under the Quaid-i-Azam Interprovincial Games-2017.

Men and women players would compete in 12 events out of the total 19 disciplines.

Sindh contingent consisting of 395 players and officials, Punjab 395, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa 349, Gilgit-Baltistan 393, Fata 330 and AJK 268 reached Islamabad on Sunday to take part in the event.

Balochistan contingent comprising 395 had already reached Islamabad. The home team, Islamabad, had 395 players and officials.  

Published in The Express Tribune, December 30^th, 2017.