Inter-varsity athletics kicks off in Peshawar

Muhammad emerges the fastest man on opening day.

PESHAWAR: University of Central Punjab’s (UCP) Syed Muhammad emerged as the fastest athlete on the opening day of the 36th All Pakistan Inter-universities Athletics Championship at Qayyum Stadium Peshawar.

Muhammad bagged gold in the 100m and was followed by teammate Muhammad Anis while Punjab University’s (PU) Shahbaz bagged bronze. Around 550 athletes from 37 universities across the country are taking part in the two-day event.

There was more good news for UCP as Asif won gold in the 5,000m race. PU’s Sadeeq and Ali Raza finished behind him. Adnan Jehangir grabbed gold for PU in the long-jump while Khurshid took home gold in the 400m hurdles. Universty of Bahawalpur got on the medals list through Sajjad who won gold in the shot-put event.

Meanwhile, Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa’s Minister for Sports Syed Aqil Shah said that if Pakistan was given hosting rights for regional events like the SAF Games, he will hold them at Peshawar Sports Complex. He added that while terrorism was being fought by politicians and the military, sports events will also lend a huge helping hand in fighting the evil and the presence of such a large number of athletes from around the country was a sign that people of the province want peace.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 7^th, 2012.