PESHAWAR
The biggest and mega Women U21 Inter-District Games, carrying more than 3000 athletes of all 35 districts across Khyber Pakhtunkhwa in seven different disciplines got under way amidst tight security, great fun and enthusiasm.
MPA Ayesha Bano, MPA Rabia Basri formally inaugurated the Games in a colourful opening ceremony. Secretary Sports Amir Sultan Tareen, Director Sports KP Khalid Khan, Director Female Games Miss Rashida Ghaznavi, Director Sports Marged Area Pir Abdullah Khan, Director Operation Syed Saqlain Shah, Director Development Saleem Raza, AD Games Zakir Ullah, Administrator Peshawar Sports Complex Jaffer Shah and other personalities were also present.
The U21 Women’s Games kicked off with a colorful ceremony at the Peshawar Sports Complex
More than 3000 players from 35 districts of the province are taking part in the Games to be continued up to March 25, 2022. All the 35 contingents took part in the smartly prepared March Past, followed by recitation from the Holy Quran by Malika of Govt Girls High School Swati Patak. Soon after the recitation from the Holy Quran, the school children presented the National Anthem.
MPA Ayesha Bano announced the opening of the Games with pigeons and balloons were released in the air. There were thundering applauses’ from the players, officials, and a large number of spectators which turned the whole complexion into a melodious one with band contingents of Govt Comprehensive School and GGHS Sheikhabad.
The kids of Peace School and College enthralled the sitting spectators and they come up on their toes with excellent performance and made some perfect formation in the well prepared PT show while the welcome group of the GGMS, Ibrahimzai wearing different customs highlighting the traditional image of all the four provinces including Gilgit-Baltistan and AJK with the melodious songs and skits.
Peshawar Sports Complex was decorated with various placards and banners. Number of players and officials attended the opening ceremony, bands took part in the march past, Bands played beautiful melodies.
Asian Boxing bronze medalist Hadia Kamal, who recently represented Pakistan in Asian Boxing Championship held in Jordan and won a bronze medal, carried the national flag during the Games.
He said that the participation of such a large number of players in these games is a great achievement. Speaking on this occasion, MPA Ayseha Bano said that the government is providing opportunities to men as well as women to excel in every field. Winning and losing is part of the game, it will not be the last competition, everyone should work together for the promotion and development of sports, said Secretary Sports Amir Sultan Tareen in his speech. She said billions of rupees allocated for the development of sports infrastructure all across the province and improvement projects are underway across the province in the light of Chief Minister Mahmood Khan’s directives.
She said separate sports facilities for women players are under construction and soon women players would get international standard facilities in all divisional headquarters. Many of these have already been completed. Mega projects are also being completed soon. She said Rs. 700 million projects are underway for the indoor Games facilities for females and it is hoped that this will provide sports facilities to women at their doorstep.
Secretary Sports KP Amir Sultan Tareen in his address said that we would try our best to complete the ongoing schemes of ADP as soon as possible. He said the government has already increased sports ADP to Rs. 6.5 billion and would utilize all possible resources for the promotion and development of sports in the province.
He said it should ensure the provision of state-of-the-art sports facilities to the women in four different venues including Sports Complex Bamkhel, District Swabi, Abdul Wali Khan Sports Complex and University of Peshawar.
He said looking after the biggest ever female Games, they have arranged accommodations in different hostels, hostels of the Directorate of Sports Khyber Pakhtunkhwa University of Peshawar and other colleges. He said a cricket event will be played at Bamkhel Sports Complex, Swabi and Speaker National Assembly Asad Qaiser will grace the occasion as chief guest. Arrangements have already been made in the Abdul Wali Khan Sports Complex, Charsadda, Girls College Dargai, Mardan and Peshawar Sports Complex and hopefully the players would not feel any difficulties whatsoever during the Games.
