Transgender sports festival concludes

PESHAWAR: The first ever sports festival for the transgender community concluded here on Thursday.

A large number of transgenders from Quetta, Mardan, Nowshera and Peshawar district took part in different sports disciplines including cricket, badminton, football, tug-of-war, musical chairs, sack race and archery.

District Sports Officer Peshawar under the supervision of Directorate General of Sports Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and district government organised the event.

Lubna, a transgender, welcomed the initiative for her community, which, she said, was the most neglected in the society. “We enjoyed a lot. Such events should be organised on a regular basis,” she said.

Bobby said they had great fun, adding that taking part in such healthy activities was a unique experience for them. She took part in tug-of-war.

Earlier, Farzana XI defeated Komal XI in the cricket match played at the Arbab Niaz Cricket Stadium. Bating first, Komal XI scored 35 runs in the allotted 8 overs. Farzana XI chased down the target for the loss of one wicket. Paro (20) played well.

Farzana XI beat Arzo XI in the football match at Malik Tehmas Khan Stadium. No team could score in the allotted time. The match was decided in a penalty shootout. Farzana XI won 5-4.

In badminton, Gul Bano beat Pinky 3-0 while in doubles Gul Bano and Paro defeated Janki and Khushbo 3-0. Muskan XI won the tug-of-war by defeating Rukhsar XI.

Khusboo and Rema were declared joint winners of the 100m race while Arzo and Lubna got second and third positions, respectively. Misbah won the musical chairs.

Director General Sports KP Junaid Khan was the chief guest at the prize distribution ceremony.

He appreciated the active participation of the transgenders in the festival.

He said the Directorate of Sports KP would organise more such events in future. He also lauded the effort of District Sports Officer Jamshed Baloch for organising the sports festival.