Mismanagement mars Sindh Games opening ceremony

KARACHI: The 17th Sindh Games, featuring 3001 players and officials, were formally opened at a badly managed ceremony here in simmering heat at the PSB Coaching Centre on Thursday.

Sindh Governor Mohammad Zubair formally announced the Games opened. The spectacle will last till April 22. In the competitions, being held after a gap of six years, male athletes will compete in 30 disciplines and female in 17.

Karachi, Hyderabad, Larkana, Mirpurkhas, Sukkur and Benazirabad Divisions are participating in the slots which were last held in 2012 in Hyderabad. There was no discipline in the entire ceremony. Not only were the people seen huddled around the zone where the Governor and Sindh Sports Minister Sardar Bux Mahar were sitting but lack of decorum was also witnessed in the announcement zone and athletes’ queues after their march past.

There were big sports personalities, including squash great Jehangir Khan and hockey legend Islahuddin Siddiqui, but it was the Sports Minister who was seen making selfies with the people.

A senior Director of Sindh Sports Board, who has been given a key responsibility in the event, was seen making pictures of some ladies in the spectators zone. Earlier Sindh’s fastest athlete Moeed Baloch took oath on behalf of the participating athletes.

The torch was brought by a group of hockey Olympians by whom it was handed over to Jehangir, then to the Governor, and finally to Islah, who, accompanied by sprinter Moeed, carried it to its place and lit it. It will keep burning till the end of the competitions.

In his address, the Governor said that it was unfortunate that the Games were being held after a gap of six years. “I think the people of Sindh want such event every year. I hope the event will have complete support of the chief minister,” Zubair said.

He said Karachi is a peaceful city and after successful holding of the PSL final and the West Indies series, the Sindh Games will further boost the image of the city.He said that the presence of former sports heroes would give impetus to the athletes featuring in the Games.

Sindh Secretary Sports and Youth Affairs Dr Niaz Ali Abbasi said that through the event new talent would be hunted which would serve the nation in future.The Sports Minister said the event was made possible due to the cooperation from the Sindh Olympic Association (SOA).

Mahar last month was made the chief of SOA.In some disciplines, competitions began on Thursday but most of the events would start on Friday (today) at 15 venues of the city. After the opening ceremony a group of players of Mirpurkhas met this correspondent outside the complex. And when they were asked why they missed the ceremony they said they had not been informed by anyone.“We did not know about the timing of the ceremony,” the players said.