By Shahid Afridi
Peshawar: As part of the 35th National Games, the Olympic torch arrived in Peshawar yesterday from Karachi,where it was warmly received by officials of the Provincial Olympic Association, former Provincial Sports Minister Syed Aqil Shah, President of the Provincial Olympic Association Haroon Zafar, Director General Sports Tashfeen Haider, Director Sports Operations Jamshed Baloch and other sports personalities.
General Secretary of KP Olympic Association, Zulfiqar Butt, carried the torch into the ceremony and along with former minister Syed Aqil Shah, President Haroon Zafar and other dignitaries, formally handed it over to DG Sports Tashfeen Haider.
In connection with the National Games, the Olympic Torch Relay ceremony will be held today at the Peshawar Sports Complex. On this occasion, Advisor on Sports Taj Muhammad Khan will hand over the torch to the representatives of Azad Jammu & Kashmir, after which the relay will continue its journey until the opening of the National Games, where it will conclude in the host city of Karachi.
Meanwhile the meeting of the Provincial Olympic Association regarding the National Games was held in Peshawar under the chairmanship of President Haroon Zafar. DG Sports Tashfeen Haider,and all officials of the provincial associations attended the meeting. It was decided that a 493-member contingent of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, consisting of players and officials, will participate in the National Games scheduled to begin on December 6 in Karachi. The registration deadline has been set for November 18. Training camps for various sports are already underway, while the remaining camps will begin today and tomorrow. After a 14-day camp, teams will depart for Karachi in phases. According to General Secretary Zulfiqar Butt, 150 athletes from KP will participate in the march-past. Track suits for players have been prepared and other equipment will soon be provided. He added that doping tests will also be conducted during the Games, therefore all associations must properly brief their athletes. Doping certificates have been declared mandatory.
An appellate bench will also be available for any objections during the Games. Addressing the meeting former provincial sports minister and President of the Provincial Wrestling Association, Syed Aqil Shah said that the province often finishes second in the National Games because the athletics track has been closed for four years along with the swimming pool. Competitions for around 120 medals take place in these sports, which significantly affects results. He said that athletes must win medals, especially gold, to secure a strong position. He highlighted that KP athletes have won international medals in wrestling, while archery and other sports need alternative practice facilities.
He pointed out that martial arts teams are participating in national competitions, yet many do not even have mats for training. KP athletes have always shown excellent performance in the Provincial Games. He warned that if Khyber Pakhtunkhwa is not awarded hosting rights for three events of the upcoming SAF Games, athletes, officials and sports organizers from the province will protest on the streets. DG Sports Tashfeen Haider in his address assured that the best facilities would be provided to the provincial contingent. Work on the athletics track is underway, and the heating system of the swimming pool will soon be repaired. The installation of floodlights at Imran Khan Cricket Stadium has been completed. The National T20 tournament will be held in Peshawar during Ramadan, while efforts are also being made to host Pakistan Super League (PSL) matches in the city. He instructed associations to select players purely on merit from trials and camps, enabling KP to win maximum medals. Scholarships are being awarded to all gold medalists, and rewards for national and international medal winners will be increased. Annual grants for associations will also be released this year. A seminar on doping awareness will be organized, and efforts are ongoing to secure hosting rights for the SAF Games events.
About the Author
