LAHORE – The 71st Samsung Punjab Games rolled into action here on Thursday evening, with Lahore winning the rugby title at the Defence Stadium. Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif declared the games open in a simple but impressive ceremony at Punjab Stadium under lights.
Senior Provincial Minister and organising committee chairman Zulfiqar Khosa, Provincial Education Minister Mujtaba Shujaur Rehman, organising secretary Idria Haider Khawaja, chief organiser Iftikhar Malik, Punjab Olympics Association president Syed Shahid Ali, and Director General Punjab Sports Fahmida Mushtaq were also present on the occasion, along with a large number of guest and athletes.
The Punjab Games features 26 events for male and female athletes, to be held at multiple venues across the city.
Speaking on the occasion, Shahbaz Sharif said that sports are necessary for the development of a good nation and grooming of the youth. “We will continue promoting sports and I feel delighted to be present on such an event where talented youth are competing for the honours,” he said. He also praised the efforts of the Pakistan cricket team and advised the youth to work hard for glory.
In team events, Lahore led on the opening day, followed by Faisalabad at the second place, while Gujranwala came third. In rugby, Lahore beat Faisalabad in the final of the rugby event. The more experienced Lahore boys put forward a great performance to win the title. Tahir of Lahore was the Coca Cola Man of the Tournament. Punjab Rugby Associating, under the auspices of the Pakistan Rugby Union and Punjab Olympic Association, made history today with the inclusion of Rugby 7s in the 71st Samsung Punjab Games. This is the first time rugby has been included in a multi-sport event in Pakistan.
Seven divisional representative teams took part in the tournament, including Lahore Gujranwala, Sargodha, Faisalabad, Multan, Sahiwal and Dera Ghazi Khan. Over the last two months, each division has held its own district tournament and camps to select the divisional teams. Punjab Rugby has the biggest rugby program in the country, with almost 24 districts of Punjab playing rugby at a competitive level.
In weightlifting, which is being held at the Punjab University Old Campus ground, Mohammad Tahir of Faisalabad won the gold medal in 69 kgs category, followed by Wasiq Azhar of Lahore and Salman Aqeel Butt of Lahore at second and third places, respectively.
The badminton women’s event commenced at 55-Lawrence Road. On the first day, quarter-finals and semi-finals were held. In track and field events, Ashfaq Ahmed of Lahore win the 1000m race, while Lahore’s Mohammad Shakeel and Ahsan Abbas of Faisalabad were placed second and third, respectively. Ashfaq also won the 4000m race and was followed by Mohammad Irfan of Lahore and Mohammad Irfan of Faisalabad.
