GCU honours 76 outstanding sportsmen

The GC University Lahore Thursday honored its 76 best sportsmen with shields, cash prizes and titles like Iron Man, Mr Super Fit, Man of Mountains, Mr Muscular, Cheeta and The Wall for their outstanding performances in national and international competitions during the sports calendar of 2010-2011.
The GCU Sports Board organised a special ceremony to acknowledge the talent of these sportsmen. GCU Vice Chancellor and Chairman Sports Board Prof Dr Ikramul Haq (SI) was the chief guest at the ceremony attended by a large number of Old Ravians and sports legends including former Test cricketer Shafqat Rana, Pakistan hockey team coach Kh. Junaid and presidents of various sports associations. GCU Dean of Arts and Social Sciences Dr Khalid Perviaz also attended the ceremony.
GCU sportsman Wahab Irfan Butt defended his record in Lahore Board Weightlifting and represented Pakistan in Junior Asian Games World Olympics by securing two bronze medals in the South Asian Qualifying Round. Besides, he also secured gold medal in the National Weightlifting Championship. Faraz Hafeez won gold medal in the National Rowing Championship along with Kashif Ali Bhatti. Hafiz Irfan, the badminton maestro won the Chief Minister Inter-collegiate Badminton Championship and National Juniors Badminton Championship and retained the title of Junior National Champion consecutively for the third year.
Khawaja Ammar won the silver medal in Inter-University Bodybuilding. He also won the silver medal in the National Senior Bodybuilding last year. Altaf Hussain Shah bagged gold medal in the javelin throw at the Inter-Universities Athletics Championship. Mr. Flexible, Khalil Mir, student of intermediate guided GCU to the victory with his flexibility and agility as he was declared the best gymnast of Lahore Board Gymnastics Championship whereas GCU was declared the champion. Hafiz Muhammad Ali was the best gymnast of HEC in Inter-University Gymnastics Championship. Adnan Aslam was declared the best mountaineer in the Inter-University Mountaineer Championship and won the title of Man of Mountains. Aqib Hanif and Saqib Yousaf lifted the winners’ trophy in the Inter-University Squash Championship.
Khursheed Khan, another talented sportsmen received his cash award for being the best athlete of GCU 111th Annual Sports. Muhammad Aoun was declared the fastest man of Lahore Board and Punjab Games 2010 and brought laurels to his alma mater. Man of Endurance, Sadam Sajid won gold medal in HEC Weightlifting Championship. Zeeshan Akram was the second best athlete of GCU Annual Sports. Hasnain Ali proved to be the Michael Phelps of GCU as he won four gold and four silver medals in Lahore Board and National Swimming Championship. GCU athlete, Adnan Jahangir broke 67 years old record of GCU Annual Sports in triple jump. Saad Ali Hassan was honoured for his overall participation in almost all the games. He won silver medals both in rowing and weightlifting besides giving satisfactory performances in volleyball, judo, wrestling and handball. GCU muscleman Mustaqeem Butt broke HEC record in weightlifting by lifting the total weight of 310 kgs. Courtesy his performance in HEC Weightlifting event, Mustaqeem has been selected to represent Pakistan in international championships.
Addressing the ceremony, GCU Director Sports Prof. Khadim Ali Khan said that sports have become very expensive as well as very desirable. He called on the industrialists and well-off Old Ravians to come forward and support the country’s outstanding talent. He said that the prices of professional equipment of sports are soaring day-by-day and sometimes very talented sportsmen remain behind because they cannot afford to buy the required equipment. The Director Sports said the price of a normal professional racket of table tennis is in thousands.
Speaking on the occasion, GCU VC Prof. Dr. Ikramul Haq that the GCU always provided full encouragement to sports right from the beginning. He said that the Government College Lahore won 12 times overall general trophy and secured runners up positions four times from 1931 to 1947. After Independence, GCU continued its outstanding traditions in the field of sports and maintained its excellence and edge over the rival institutions and won the general all-round trophy 20 times and remained runner up for 22 times from 1947-48 till 1988-89 in national games.