About 3,000 athletes flock Stadium for National Games

The 32nd National Games blasted into action here at the Railway Stadium on Saturday in a colourful opening ceremony which participated by almost 3000 athletes of the entire country. The participating contingents march into the Railway Stadium before the watching eyes of the chief guest Syed Shahid Ali and other members of the Pakistan Olympics Association including Lt Gen ® Arif HAssan. Swimmer Rohail Waqar lit the Games torch. The chief guest, International Olympic Committee (IOC) member in Pakistan and Punjab Olympic Association (PbOA) president Syed Shahid Ali took the slute from the marching athletes while Pakistan Olympic Association (POA) president Syed Arif Hassan, secretary Khalid Mehmood, Idress Haider Khawaja, Shaukat Javed, Khalid Bashir, Khawar Shah, Ch Yaqoob, Waqar Ali, Khurram Haroon and many other sports related dignitaries were also present on the occasion. Shahid Ali declared the Games open and that was followed by the handball player Muzammal Mehmood taking the oath on behalf of the participating players. While expressing his joy over watching cheering crowd of players, contingents and performers, the chief guest said: “The presence and enthusiasm of crowd proves that people still love games. It is their love for sports that the lured them at this venue to cheer their teams and players to do their best to make the National Games a remarkable event.” Punjab Olympic Association secretary Khawaja Idrees said: “Our efforts bear fruit as we opened the Games at given time and by organisation of this event proves that Punjab can hold every kind of games at every level. We have done everything for honour of Punjab and we will never let Punjab’s respect down.” He said the athletes across the country had put faith in them for which they were thankful to them. In cycling, first gold medal went to M Shakeel of Punjab in 1km time trials. In women event, Raheela Bano of Wapda won gold in 500 metre race. In volleyball competitions, Wapda downed KPK by 3-0 in first match, HEC beat Punjab 3-0 in second match while in the third match, Wapda outpaced Punjab 3-0.