KP U-23 Inter-Regional Male & Female Games begins in amidst tight security

PESHAWAR, May 05 (APP):The 2nd edition of the Khyber
Pakhtunkhwa U-23 Male and Female Games got under way here at fully decorated
Qayyum Sports Complex amidst great fun and joys in the colourful opening
ceremony with more than 3400 players are taking part in 26 male and 17 female
events.
Chief Minister KP Pervez Khattak was the chief guest who
formally inaugurated the Games to be continued for three-day at different venues.
KP Sports Minister Mehmood Khan was the chief guest on this
occasion, Secretary Sports Tariq Khan, Deputy Secretary Sports Adil Safi, Additional
Secretary Babar Khan, Director Female Miss Rashida Ghaznavi, Director Operation
Syed Saqlain Shah, Director General Youth Asfandiyar Khan, Director Youth Aziz
Ullah, hundreds and thousands of players from all seven regions comprising Dera
Ismail Khan, Bannu, Kohat, Mardan, Swat, Hazara and host Peshawar are taking
part.
The colourful ceremony was started with the recitation
from the Holy Quran by Bibi Nazo of Peshawar, followed by a melodious Naat
presented by Ufaq Nisar of District Nowshera and National Anthem by the school
kids of Charsadda. There was melodious atmosphere as the little girls of Mardan
sung excellently prepared welcome song, followed by Band display and stunning
March Past of the contingents.
The players also have traditional dance “Athern”,
followed by a national song “Ye Das Hamara Ha Isay Ham Na Sawara Ha” and Jevy
Jevy Pakistan. All the players were
provided accommodation in the hotels near to the venues besides female were
hosted in University of Peshawar and Qayyum Sports Complex.
Speaking on this occasion, KP Sports Minister Mehmood
Khan lauded the efforts of the Directorate of Sports for holding the events
first at district level wherein 8000 male and female players from 26 districts
took part and now more than 34000 players who got first position in various
games at district level are representing their respective seven regions.
Minister Sports announced that the performers would be
short-listed and would be given sports scholarship worth Rs. 3.5 million. He
said Rs. 10.5 have already been distributed in the position holders of the
Under-23 Games in 2016 and 2017.
He said that KP govt is holding the Under-23 Games for
the 3rd consecutive years with due opportunities have been given to both male
and female players. Sports Minister KP Mehmood assured the players that all out
efforts would be taken to provide best facilities during the games. He said
youth are the future builders of the nation and that is why govt gives due
importance to the youth.
He advised the youth to keep on their hardworking if
anyone wants to reach at national and international levels. “Without hard work
no one can achieve good result,” he added. He also appreciated the govt of KP
for holding the biggest ever games wherein 11500 male and female players taking
part.
He said 100 grounds have been completed and work on 30
other grounds continues and it would be completed by June this year. He said
Rs. 200 million would be allocated for the establishment of academies of various
games. He said funds have already been given to various associations besides a
special fund of Rs. 40 million have been given for holding the 4th
Inter-Provincial Games.
Earlier, Laiba Ijaz, the double gold medalist of recently
held Quaid-e-Azam Games, entered the ground with the Games torch, followed by
gold medalist of Muhammad Awais in Taekwondo, badminton Muhammad Zohaib, Aysha
Zamnan, international badminton player Murad Ali, international athlete Asad
Iqbal, silver medalist of SAF Games in 110m hurdles Muhammad Shah at the
torched the Games flame. There were Khattak, Mehsud, and traditional culture
dances, followed by a stunning PT show of Govt Middle School Ibrahim Zai and
March Past of the smart contingent.