Daily Times

PESHAWAR: The unveiling of the Trophy of 2nd Under-23 Games carrying a slogan of ‘Khalari Ho Tu Sabat Karoo’ will be held at Dera Ismail Khan on January 17, Director General Sports KP Miss Rashida Ghaznavi said in an exclusive talk on Sunday.

“All preparations in this connection have already been completed,” he added. The games will be organised in February this year wherein more than 7000 male and female athletes will participate in 13 (female) and 15 (male disciplines) at the Inter-District level while at the Regional level there will be 14 female and 20 males disciplines.

Similar unveiling ceremonies of the trophy would be organised in Bannu on Jan 19 and Kohat on Jan 24. she said, adding the games for men will include cricket, football, volleyball, hockey, squash, badminton, table tennis, boxing, athletics, gymnastic, judo, karate and Taekwondo while women would compete in cricket, netball, hockey, basketball, squash, badminton, table tennis, athletic, judo, wushu and taekwondo.

The plan for successful arrangements of the games has already been completed. An assistant commissioner at every district would be the focal person for the events. The department has adopted a three-pronged strategy for the games. The grounds would be developed for the games, players introduced and promoted and they would be provided equipment.

While elaborating the overall structure of the games, Miss Rashida Ghaznavi disclosed that the games will be held first on the Inter-District level wherein all 26 districts would participate while 14 female and 20 male games would be organised at the Inter-Regional level wherein teams from seven regions comprising Dera Ismail Khan, Bannu, Kohat, Mardan, Malakand, Hazara and Peshawar would participate.

She said before the unveiling ceremony on January 17, the trophy will get a whole-day round in different areas of Dera Ismail Khan. Special ‘Tanga’ rally will be taken to have a round for the trophy in various baazars on January 16.

She said various projects had been initiated only to promote sports and other recreational activities for the youth. The govt, she said, allocated significant amount for involving the youth in healthy sports activities.

One of the significant project, has already been completed by the present government by the laying of an international standard hockey turf at Mardan Sports Complex at a total expense of Rs 67.69 million.

She said, the ground would not only help in promoting the national sport but will also provide the talented youth of the province to realise their maximum potential. The hockey turf was completed by the present government on a fast track basis making it the second international standard turf available in the province.

She disclosed that preparations for conducting the second edition of KP Under-23 Games in the province had already been kicked off. Furthermore, the previous govt had approved the construction

of Abdul Wali Khan Sports Complex but its construction was delayed due to availability of funds.

However, the present govt took the task and ensured its completion in two years’ time. The Complex is the largest of its kind second only to Qayyum Sports Complex in Peshawar.

The present govt has also completed the construction of 33 sports grounds and these grounds are in possession of the Directorate of Sports KP.

Answering a question, she said the Olympic Plaza constructed at a cost of Rs. 80.5 million, would help in generating revenue which will be utilised for the promotion of sports and games in the province.