PESHAWAR
Started its second day journey the Torch of the 34th National Games carried by promising International boxer Miss Hadi Kamal from Peshawar Sports Complex handed over to Air Marshal Hakim Raza SI (M), Air Officer Commanding Northern Air Command at PAF Base Peshawar in a colourful reception held at PAF Hashim Khan Squash Complex on Monday.
Air Marshal Hakim Raza, Air Officer Northern Air Command PAF, later on carried the Torch after receiving it from President Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Olympic Association Syed Aqil Shah and Miss Hadi and handed over it to international gold medalist boxer Hassan who along with PAF international athletes carried the Torch in a relay that went through PAF Base Peshawar.
After completing the visit at PAF Base, the Torch was received by International Tennis players Muhammad Shoaib, Barkat Ullah, Aqib Hayat, and they gave it to international wrestler Niamat UIlah who was sitting in traditional Tongha and took the Torch in a Tangha relay to interior City.
General Secretary KP Olympic Association Zulfiqar Ali Butt, Deputy Director of Operations Jamshed Baloch, Deputy Director of Sports Syed Jafar Shah, Deputy Chef de Mission KP Contingent for 34th National Games Ilyas Afridi, Tehsinullah, international gold medalist Taekwondo player Hania Khan, Ex-Sports In-charge Khpal Kor Model School Swat and Deputy Chef de Miss and national player Miss Sumayyah and other officials of the KP Olympic Association, President Sports Writers Association KP Asim Sheraz were also present.
The 34th National Games Torch was carried hand-in-hand with a large number of men, women and children and other visitors in historical Qissa Khawani Bazar, Sehti House, and historical Gor Ghatri.
Four times international gold medalist athlete Bahre Karam, National Badminton Champion Murad Ali, Asian gold medalist Murad Khan, Senior Vice President POA and former sports minister KP Syed Aqil Shah were also present.
The Torch after going through historical City Peshawar will be handed over to Governor KP Haji Ghulam Ali at Governor House. From the Governor House, the Torch Relay through traditional Tangha would reach Peshawar Sports Complex for an overnight stay and after overnight stay, on May 9, the Torch would be handed to the officials of the Punjab Olympic Association at the Attock Bridge (Khairabad) by KP Olympic Association.
In his speech, Air Marshal Hakim Raza, SI (M), Air Officer Commanding Northern Air Command, PAF, expressed good wishes to all the participating athletes. He said Pakistan’s athletes have ruled the world in snooker, squash, cricket and hockey and still our athletes are achieving success all over the world. Athletes should show their best skills by fully participating in these National Games.
Addressing the ceremony, KP Olympic Association President Syed Aqil Shah and Secretary Zulfikar Butt said that the purpose of passing the Torch of National Games from the historical places of Peshawar city is to create awareness among the people about the Games to be started by Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah and with it the peace of these Games. The message was to highlight the talent and brotherhood among all federating units besides providing opportunities to the athletes to show their skills.
