Mardan’s Shabana bags Games’ first gold

First edition of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Games kicks off.

PESHAWAR: The 1st Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Games started in full swing yesterday, with the Mardan region dominating the opening day of the female events. The Games were inaugurated by Secretary Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Olympic Association Zulfiqar Butt.

The tournament showcases 12 sports disciplines for women and 24 for men, and will take place in four different phases. The first phase featured three female events on the opening day, the male events will start from Friday.

Each event will last three days so that the players competing in different disciplines can be provided with adequate accommodation facilities in the hostels at the Qayyum Sports Complex, according to Organising Secretary of the Games Kifayatullah. He added that the sporting spectacle, which is being funded by the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Sports Board, is a test-trial for selecting teams to ensure transparency and merit.

First gold won in athletics

The day started with the athletics discipline where Shabana of Mardan bagged the first gold medal in the 100-metre race. Sundas of Bannu won silver and Asma took bronze. In the Discus throw event, Hina claimed the gold medal, followed by Sumbal of Dera Ismail Khan and Muskan of Mardan. Sumbal of Dera Ismail Khan won gold in the 800-metre race and Muskan of Mardan was victorious in the Javelin throw.

The 4X100-metre race saw Mardan claim first place, Peshawar clock in at second and Kohat third.

In the Baseball event, the Bannu team beat Dera Ismail Khan 7-3 and Hazara outclassed Malak 11-1. Mardan will now face Kohat and Hazara will clash against Bannu.

Abbottabad, Peshawar, Bannu and Mardan secured their berths in the Badminton semi-finals as Peshawar beat Kohat 2-1 and Bannu beat Dera Ismail Khan 2-1.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 3^rd, 2010.