KP dominate as Games begin in Peshawar

PESHAWAR: Khyber Pakhtun-khwa dominated the opening day of the 4th edition of the Inter-Provincial Games by winning 10 gold medals here at the Peshawar Sports Complex on Sunday.

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa secured total 10 gold, nine silver and three bronze medals by collecting 256 points.Punjab (156 points) with three gold, nine silver and four bronze medals stood second while Fata with 146 points finished third.

Earlier, a colorful inaugural ceremony was held at the recently renovated Peshawar Spots Complex. Pakistan Olympic Association (POA) President Lt Gen (r) Arif Hassan was the chief guest. POA General secretary Khalid Mehmood, Olympic Association Vice President Syed Aqil Shah, Sports KP Director General Junaid Khan, office-bearers of other sports bodies and a large number of spectators were also present on the occasion.

The athletes from four provinces — Fata, Gilgit-Baltistan, Azad Kashmir and Islamabad — marched into the stadium. Children presented tableaus while traditional dances of all the federating units, Fata, Gilgit-Baltistan and Azad Kashmir were also presented on the occasion.

As many as 1700 athletes including 300 each from Balochistan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Punjab and Sindh, 150 from Fata, 100 from Islamabad, 50 from Azad Kashmir and 100 from Gilgit-Baltistan were featuring in the event.

As many as 160 officials are supervising the games. The competitions of 35 different sports disciplines including 24 for male and 11 for female athletes would be held in the three-day games.

Arif Hassan said that the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s role in organising sports events was commendable. He thanked the KP government for organising the games on a short notice, saying peace had been restored to the province and holding of the games would promote harmony among the provinces.

He said that the Pakistani squad was ready to participate in the Commonwealth Wealth Games, hoping that the athletes would win medals in various sports disciplines.Syed Aqil Shah thanked the KP government for providing a grant of over Rs40 million for games.

Meanwhile, a controversy has surfaced in the games as two athletic teams from Sindh and Balochistan arrived in the province to take part in the Inter-Provincial Games.KP Olympic and Pakistan Athletic Association announced boycott of the athletics as both the side stuck to their stance to allow their choice teams to take part in the games.However, POA president said that talks were being held with the two sides to solve the issue as soon as possible.