DLP Report
PESHAWAR
The Directorate General of Sports Khyber Pakhtunkhwa on Saturday organized a sports gala for the transgender community at the Peshawar Sports Complex.
More than 100 transgender persons and short-statured individuals participated in the gala.
The colourful ceremony featured a range of competitions, including cricket, futsal, musical chairs, sack race, tug-of-war and archery.
Participants competed enthusiastically in various track and field and recreational events aimed at promoting inclusion and equal opportunity in sports.
Overall, the Farzana Group of the transgender community secured the first position in the gala, while the Arzoo Group finished second.
In the futsal final, however, the Arzoo team clinched the title, with Farzana’s team emerging as runners-up.
In individual events, Ajwa secured first place in the sack race, followed by Zuni and Nayab Gul. Muskan won the food competition, while Shai Ko Ko claimed first position in the cone race, with Muskan and Noman taking second and third places, respectively. Shaista Gul won the musical chairs event.
In archery, Maya secured first position and Kashi finished second. Zardad Bulbul won the tug-of-war contest. In the 50-metre race, Manni won gold, Malaika silver and Ajwa bronze. In the short-statured race, Luqman secured gold, followed by Usman with silver and Noor with bronze.
Secretary Sports and Youth Affairs Muhammad Asif Khan was the chief guest at the ceremony.
Director General Sports Tashfeen Haider, Director Merger Districts Umar Arshad, Director Operations Jamshed Baloch and Assistant Director Shah Faisal attended the event.
Speaking to the media at the opening ceremony, Mr Khan said the purpose of organising sports competitions for the transgender community was to affirm that they were an important part of society and that participation in such activities was their fundamental right.
He announced that the Transgender Sports Gala would be held annually to ensure equal sports opportunities for transgender people.
He added that since the start of the new year, sports activities had been taking place across the province and efforts were under way to provide the youth with improved facilities.
Referring to the Pakistan Super League, the secretary said the Imran Khan Cricket Stadium was ready to host PSL matches and expressed hope that fixtures would be held at the venue later this year.
