PESHAWAR – Amid tight security, Governor KP Owais Ahmad Ghani inaugurated the National Games in a colourful ceremony at Khan Qayoom Stadium here on Saturday. The inauguration ceremony of 31st National Games was also attended by high ranking officials from all four provinces, Azad Kashmir, Gilgit Baltistan and FATA.
Former Olympian Qazi Salahuddin entered the stadium with the torch after the governor declared the Games open. Squash star Aamir Atlas lit the torch. Later on, players from all over the country marched past the governor.
Girls and boys from different schools presented PT shows, whereas artists from all four provinces performed the traditional dances. Jawans of Frontier Corps presented Khattak and Chitrali dances. President Pakistan Olympic Association Arif Hassan expressed his satisfaction over the security arrangements in Peshawar.
He was also impressed by the arrangements made by the host government. However, some players, coaches and organizers from different teams have shown disappointment over the arrangements. The players from Balochistan late Friday night announced a boycott of the Games.
They were later persuaded by the hosts to stay. KP Information Minister Mian Iftikhar Hussain, in a brief chat with media, admitted there were some problems, but blamed the sensitive situation of the province for the shortcomings.
Hockey: Army and Navy advanced to the next round after securing wins against their respective rivals in the hockey event, which got underway at Abbottabad Hockey Stadium on Saturday. In the first match, Army defeated Wapda 4-3 in a thrilling match. Army took the lead in the 3rd minute through Muhammad Shafique’s field goal. But soon Sohail Abbas leveled the tally 1-1 for Wapda through his trademark penalty corner drag.
In the 29th minute, Army again took the lead through right winger Muhammad Kashif, but Sohail Abbas scored the second equaliser on a penalty corner. Just before the end of the first half, Muhammad Kashif scored his second to give Army the lead. In the second half, Wapda struggled hard to level the match 3-3 as Muhammad Jaffar slammed a field goal.
Abdul Jabbar converted a cross in the dying moments of the second half to give Army their first win of the tournament. In the second match, Navy defeated Khyber Pakhtunkhwa 1-0 in a crucial tie. KP missed many chances of scoring due to poor finishing by players.
Navy’s Falak scored the lone goal on a penalty corner. The PAF-Punjab clash ended in a 1-all draw. PAF’s Imran and Punjab’s Muhammad Rizwan Khan scored a goal each for their teams.
Football: Khyber Pakhtunkhwa made an impressive debut in 31st National Games Football Tournament when they held national champions Wapda to a goal-less draw here on Saturday Quaid-i-Azam Sports Complex, Islamabad. Wapda, fielding first-choice players, dominated the match but failed to score as KP thwarted all attempts on goal.
KP also played aggressively in the second session but Wapda’s keeper Abdul Aziz foiled their attempts with fine saves.
Meanwhile, five-time National Games gold medalist Army were also held to a draw by Pakistan Railways.
The tight-finish game failed to produce results as both teams returned from the arena with a 1-all scoreline. Railways were the first to settle down. Their relentless efforts earned them the opener in the seventh minute when winger Zaheer Abbas saw his cross kicked into the nets by Railways skipper and spearhead Asif Hameed.
Army was without several key players due to the ongoing PPFL at Karachi. Railways led 1-0 at interval. Army went all out in quest of an equalizer, and finally got the reward when striker Tanveer Ahmed scored in the 83rd minute. Sunday (26 Dec) Fixture: Navy v Railways (Ground No. 1, 1 PM), PAF v KP (Ground No.2, 2 PM).
Railways made to feel at home
PESHAWAR – Setting an example of high-class mismanagement, organisers of the country’s biggest sports event made Railways players to sleep in train bogies here on Friday. The Railways contingent arrived in Peshawar on Thursday night, Railways sources told media.
It is strange to know that the players were accommodated in compartments of trains parked at Saddar Railway Station. Onlookers were bewildered on watching the players have a weight-lifting practice session on railway platforms. Agencies
