Sports events vital to save youth from unhealthy activities: minister

LAHORE: Punjab Minister for Youth Affairs Malik Faisal Ayub Khokhar said that sports events could play a vital role in saving the youth from unhealthy activities. He said this while talking to media on the second day of Chief Minister Punjab Baseball League at the FC College Baseball Ground on Friday.

Faisal Khokhar further said that holding Chief Minister Punjab Baseball League is definitely a big success and the first step towards more sports leagues which are planned under the banner of Chief Minister Punjab Sports Leagues. “The participation of teams from all parts of the country reflected true unity among the people of the country,” he added.

Khokhar also met with seven international baseball coaches - Steve Devoss (CEO GSP), Mickey Weston (Pitching Coach), Justin Rhodes (Fielding Coach), Brian Furches (Fielding Coach), Rebecca Pack (GSP Coach), Shannon Furches and Allie Furches - on this occasion.

He informed that 150 players including 70 females from far flung areas of the country are participating in the Chief Minister Punjab Baseball League being organized with the collaboration of Sports Board Punjab (SBP). Hindu player Tulsi from Sindh province is also participating in the baseball league.

The minister said that the game of baseball is quite popular among the youth and we will establish baseball grounds in different cities of the province. “The participation of 150 players from all over the country including 70 women is a good omen for the future of the baseball game. I am sure that these players will win gold medals in international events in future. Development of sports across the province is the vision of Chief Minister Punjab Maryam Nawaz”.

DG Youth Affairs Punjab Pervez Iqbal on this occasion said that Sports Board Punjab is extending every kind of cooperation for the smooth holding of CM Punjab Baseball League as per vision of Chief Minister Punjab Maryam Nawaz. “The development of sports across the province is our motto and we will provide a suitable platform to young talented athletes so that they can express their sporting skills in a competitive environment”.

DG Youth Affairs and Sports Punjab Pervez Iqbal, Director Sports Yasmeen Akhtar, Divisional Sports Officer Multan Manzar Farid Shah, Secretary Pakistan Federation Baseball Fakhar Shah, Chief Sports Consultant Hafeez Bhatti and other officials were also present on this occasion.