F.P. Report
PESHAWAR: The 3nd edition of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Under-23 Male Games got under way at scenic Mardan Sports Complex grounds amidst tight security with great enthusiasm witnessed among 500 male players’ part of the mega event.
Commissioner Mardan Zakir Hussain Afridi was the chief guest on this occasion. Nazim District Mardan Himayat Ullah Mayar, DG Sports Junaid Khan, Director Operation Syed Saqlain Shah, AD Sports Niamat Ullah Marwat, Director Development Salim Raza, DSO Kashif Farhan, Administrator Zakir Ullah, officials and large number of spectators were also present.
The colourful ceremony was started with the recitation from the Holy Quran by Qazi Irfan. Kids of local school presented a well-prepared National Anthem. There was melodious atmosphere as the kids of local school children presented song “Ye Das Hamara Ha Isay Ham Na Sawara Ha” and Jevy Jevy Pakistan which further tuned up the whole atmosphere into a melodious one.
Commissioner Mardan formally announced the commencement of the Games when he cut the tape with thundering cheering responses of the players. Soon after inauguration of the Games in 15 different games comprising athletic, basketball, badminton, cricket, judo, handball, volleyball, table tennis, karate, wrestling, lawn tennis, gymnastic, squash, hockey, and tug of war.
Balloons, pigeons, and banners pinned with balloons and inscribes with different sports slogans were also released in the air.
Sports is vital tool of character building of the new generation and through sports activities we want to give a message of peace to the rest of the world,” Commissioner Mardan said on this occasion. He said it is very encouraging that such a huge number of male players turned up from Malakand, Buner, Swabi and Mardan are now part of the Games.
He said, Mardan, Buner, Swabi and Malakand are blessed with good talent among the youth but they lack facilities and proper guidance of training and coaching but now the govt initiated such Games at their door steps and now it up to the youth to come up at national and international levels.
He also lauded Directorate General Sports KP for holding the Games for the third consecutive years which involved almost 11500 athletes. He expressed the hope that due facilities would be ensured by the organizing committee to the players. He said it is very encouraging that steps have been taken to reach out at the door steps of youth. Commissioner Mardan advises the players to give due importance to the sports activities along with their academic so that they could play a role for a prosperous Pakistan.
In his welcome speech, DG Sports Junaid Khan said that KP govt is holding the U-23 Games for the 3rd consecutive years with due opportunities have been given to both male and female players. He said the Games are being organized in two different phases – first players of the districts would participate in 15 male and 13 female Games while in the second phase all seven regions would be involved in 26 male and 17 female Games. He said special focus has been given to the provision of playing fields.
In the Tug-of-War Mardan beat Swabi in the final by 2-1. Mardan recorded victory against Malakand by 2-0 while Swabi recorded victory against Buner. In the hockey Mardan beat Malakand by 8-1. Malakand took the lead through penalty corner conversion by Sohail Khan while for Mardan Irfan, Niamat, Irshad and Jaffar scored two goals each, all on the field attempts, to make the tally 8-1. In the second match Buner defeated Swabi by 5-2. Asghar Ali and Shahbaz scored two goals each while Javed made it 5-0. Afzal and Tufail scored one goal each for Swabi.
In the basketball Swabi beat Buner by 57-54 in a thrilling match. In the Volleyball Mardan and Buner took berth into the final after recording victories against Malakand and Buner in straight sets.
In the end, the chief guest Commissioner Kohat Muthar Zeb gave away trophies and cash prizes to the winners and runners-up. The winner was awarded Rs. 20,000 while the runners got Rs. 15000 cash prize.
