Dominating the field: Athletic meet finishes with only winners

First of its kind in city to honour talents of students who are differently abled

PESHAWAR: The first ever athletic games for children who are differently abled came to an end in the provincial capital on Friday. Children as well as adults from all across Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa participated.

According to Sana Khan, a sports teacher, “These children are always winners. They start their competition at birth and only need support and encouragement around them to thrive and succeed.” Races and football matches were organised by Special Olympics Pakistan (SOP) in collaboration with Malik Saad Sports Trust. The event took place at the sports complex in Qayyum Stadium.

Students who are differently abled from at least 20 schools from across K-P took part in the event. Aghosh Special Education Institute in Hangu, Mashaal Institute for Special Education in Tarbela, Special Education Centre in Hayatabad, Kingston School in Abbottabad, SAM School and several others participated. Medalists from Special Olympics in Los Angeles (LA) earlier this year also attended the event to represent their schools in the games.

National Sports Director Arshad Javaid said, “More than 300 students participated in the athletic race and football games.”Javaid said both men and women participated in games at the event.

Out on the field

According to Ayesha Zaman, who was also maintaining the scores, school two 200-metre race competitions were held for boys and men due to a high number of participants, while only one 200-metre race was held for girls and women. Nasrullah, from Kohat, and Usman, from Hayatabad, clinched first positions. Iqra from Nowshera also came first.

Similarly 100-metre and 50-metre races were held separately for men and women. Rizwan and Waheedullah of Tarbela secured first positions in the 100-metre race, while Asif Mukkaram and Faiq triumphed in the 50-metre race for men. Munnaza from Abbottabad won first position in the women’s 50-meter race.

The football matches were also divided into two divisions due to the high level of participation from schools. In the first set of matches, Mashaal Institute in Tarbela seized first position, while Kingston was runner-up. In the second division of matches, Sarhad Society for Rehabilitation of Disabled (SSRD) came first and Aghosh Institute came in second. All players were provided with shirts adorned with SOP’s slogan: Let me win but if I cannot win, let me brave in the attempt’ is the motto behind SOP.

Representing self and country

Nayab Bibi, a resident of Swabi and bronze medalist in the 200-metre race in the Special Olympics held in LA in August, represented her school. Speaking to The Express Tribune, she praised her school Mashaal Institute for giving her confidence and the ability to participate in athletic activities.

“Receiving that medal in LA was definitely a memorable moment,” she said adding she was happy to make her parents proud. “Although I have paralysis in my left hand, I refuse to think of myself as weaker than others.” Jahangir, a resident of Tarbela, also took part in the football games for Special Olympics in LA. Even without 100% functionality in a lower limb, Jahangir participated in the football games at an international level. “It was a tremendous experience,” he said.

Waheed also attended the LA event to participate in the basketball tournament. According to Waheed, “I cannot hear, however, when I play basketball I see and I also feel the sound of the ball.” He added he wanted to play professionally for Pakistan in the future.

At the end of the event, former minister for sports Aqil Shah distributed trophies and awards among the winners.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 7^th, 2015.