Punjab has high hopes at National Games

Olympian Shabana Akhtar, others hand over Games torch to POA president

LAHORE:

The Punjab Olympic Association President Amir Jan handed over the torch of the 34th National Games to the Secretary of Sports and Youth Affairs, Shahid Zaman, and the Director-General of Sports, Dr Asif Tufail, at a ceremony held at Punjab Stadium in the provincial capital on Friday.

The Secretary of Pakistan Olympic Association (POA), Mohammad Khalid Mehmood, the Secretary of Punjab Olympic Association, (PbOA), Idris Haider Khawaja, and other officials besides a large number of sports enthusiasts were also present on the occasion.

Earlier, Olympian Shabana Akhtar, international athlete Shajar Abbas, and former Kabaddi captain Shafiq Chishti carried the torch of the 34th National Games to Punjab Stadium and handed it over to the President of the Punjab Olympic Association.

Addressing the ceremony, the secretary of Sports Punjab said that Punjab’s sports contingent of around 450 athletes would offer brilliant performance in the National Games scheduled to be held in Quetta from May 22.

“Our athletes are well prepared for the grand National Games event, and we are quite upbeat that they will clinch more medals than all other contingents from across the country.”

The Director-General of Sports, Dr Asif Tufail, said that it would be a wonderful opportunity for young male and female athletes of the province to display their sports potential in their respective games.

“Sports Board Punjab is working hard for the promotion of sports across the province.”

In his address, the President of the Punjab Olympic Association, Amir Jan, said that Punjab’s sports contingent had been prepared with the untiring efforts of the Secretary of Sports and Youth Affairs of Punjab, Shahid Zaman, and the Director-General of Sports of Punjab, Dr Asif Tufail.

“Punjab Sports Department is taking effective measures for the promotion of sports in the province. Holding National Games is definitely a major step for the growth of sports culture across the country.”

Published in The Express Tribune, May 13^th, 2023.