Punjab teams to be selected purely on merit: Khanzada

LAHORE: The trials for the selection of Punjab contingent are under progress at various venues in Lahore. As many as 62 girls took part in hockey trials at National Hockey Stadium and 20 were selected for camp training on Thursday.

The trials of athletics, hockey, football (men), badminton, baseball, tennis, taekwondo, kabaddi, judo, boxing, wrestling, squash, netball and snooker teams were also held at various venues in Lahore on Thursday. The selected teams will be trained in camps for upcoming Quaid-i-Azam Inter-Provincial Games scheduled to be held at Islamabad from December 25-29, 2017.

Punjab Minister for Sports Jahangir Khanzada visited girls’ hockey trials at National Hockey Stadium on Thursday. He watched the trials with keen interest.While talking to media the minister said that the stage is set for second edition of Quaid-i-Azam Inter-Provincial Games and Punjab contingent is in strong position to defend its title in the mega event.

Punjab Minister for Sports Jahangir Khanzada said Punjab captured 61 medals and outplayed its opponents in the previous Quaid-i-Azam Inter-Provincial Games. “We are quite upbeat that our contingent will maintain its performance in the forthcoming Quaid-i-Azam Inter-Provincial Games,” he added.

Answering a question about the trials Khanzada said the athletes in all teams of Punjab contingent will be selected purely on merit and in this regard no leniency will be shown at any level.Khanzada further said that expert coaches will impart training to selected players in the camps. “Sports Board Punjab is providing best facilities to all players and it’s up to them to show more promise and win more medals in the Quaid-i-Azam Inter-Provincial Games,” he elaborated.

About the fitness of players, Khanzada said perfect fitness is a key factor in the success of any player. “Our coaches will put special emphasis on the fitness of players during the camp training because no player can carve out any notable success without perfect fitness,” he stressed.