Fata’s Israr dominates opening day

PESHAWAR: Qari Israr of Fata dominated the opening day with scoring 277 points as the National Archery Championship got underway here at the Peshawar Sports Complex Monday.

Israr, who won the Capital Development Authorities (CDA) Winter Sports Gala in Islamabad, led the championship with four (10-pointer), eight times (9-pointer) and ten times (8-pointer) by leaving behind all the other national and international level archers.

International archer of Pakistan Army Idrees Majeed with 276 points stood second while Usama Mustafa of Pakistan Police with 265 was at 3rd position. Three male and three female archers are representing their respective teams in the 70-metre contest being organised under the rules of World Archery Federation.

Earlier, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Olympic Association President Syed Aqil Shah inaugurated the championship. Pakistan Archery Federation secretary Muhammad Wisal Khan, associate secretary Pakistan Olympic Association Zulfiqar Ali Butt, national archery level-II coach Sarfaraz Khan, players, officials and a large number of spectators were also present on the occasion.

Male and female players from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Punjab, Sindh, Fata, Islamabad, Higher Education Commission, Pakistan Army, Wapda, Pakistan Railways, Police and Customs are featuring in the three-day event.

The event is the joint venture of National Archery Federation and Directorate of Sports Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.Peshawar, which has the privileged of hosting the first National Archery Championship in 2013, is also hosting the fifth edition.

Syed Aqil Shah said that it was matter of pride for the province that it was hosting the event for the 3rd time. He expressed satisfaction over the arrangements made for the successful holding of the event, saying that it would help portray soft image of Pakistan.

Wisal Khan said that the competitions of three categories including individual, team event and mixed team event would be held in the championship.The secretary said that the judges’ panel included Imran Khan, Qazi Asad, Imtiaz Sarfaraz and Asghar Khan while the jury of appeal committee comprised Manzar Shah, Altaf Shinwari and Mansoor Shehzad.

Wisal said that he was heading the organising committee while other members included Shahid Shinwari, Ilyas Afridi, Kifayatullah Khan, Jehanzib Saddigue and others.The final of all the three categories would be played on January 17. Pakistan Archery Federation President Lieutenant General (r) Arif Hassan would be the chief guest on the final day.