SBP to undertake more hectic efforts for promotion of sports in 2019: DG Sports Punjab Nadeem Sarwar

Director General Sports Punjab Nadeem Sarwar, in a statement on Wednesday, said Sports Board Punjab, under the vision of Chief Minister Usman Buzdar, will initiate more hectic efforts for the promotion of sports in the calendar year 2019. DG Sports Punjab Nadeem Sarwar said Sports Board Punjab will utilise all resources to popularize sports culture in the province in the year 2019. “We have already organized a major sports event in the shape of ‘International Kabaddi Taakra’ in the early days of year 2019. SBP is also going to organise Inter-Division Hockey Championship from February 6 to 11, 2019 to give talented players of the province an opportunity to show their hockey potential. Punjab govt is also planning to host Punjab Games in April this year. A Dangal competition will also be organized to promote traditional game in the province. Apart from this, Sports Board Punjab will also host three episodes of 7-Game Coaching and Training camps in the remaining period of on-going year,” he elaborates. The Sports Board Punjab (SBP) carried out hectic endeavours for the promotion of sports and accumulated sufficient success in various games during the calendar year 2018. National athletes, under the banner of Sports Board Punjab, won several national and international titles during the previous 12 months period. SBP also extended all the necessary facilities to national athletes for their participation in international sports events. Several top class sports gymnasiums, stadia and playgrounds were also inaugurated during the year 2018. The announcements of Punjab Games and sports policy were also made during the calendar year 2018.
As far as the previous calendar year is concerned, the first month of 2018 remained quite busy and several sports events were organized and venues were opened in the early days of year. In January 2018, Sports Board Punjab’s first lawn tennis academy was inaugurated at Nishtar Park Sports Complex. Pakistan Kabaddi Federation (PKF) and Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) also conducted a technical kabaddi course with the collaboration of SBP from January 3-8, 2018 at Punjab Stadium. A six-member sports delegation from China held a detailed meeting with Secretary Sports Punjab in the early days of January to promote sports relations between the two countries. In the middle of January, State of the Art Punjab Int’l Swimming Complex was inaugurated. SBP’s 10th cricket academy at Hazru was also opened in late January. SBP also extended full cooperation for Special Olympics National Games held in January. Around 250 differently-abled athletes from Punjab, Sindh, Balochistan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Gilgit Baltistan and Islamabad took part in powerlifting, bocce and soccer events at Punjab Stadium.
In mid-February, SBP arranged grand dinner ceremony in honour of participants of First National Youth Summit Pakistan (NYSP) at Punjab Int’l Swimming Complex. The NYSP seminar was held under the auspices of University of Lahore (UoL) and Ministry of Youth and Sports. In late February, SBP extended full cooperation for 40th National Kabaddi C’ship. As many as 13 teams including Iran, Punjab, Sindh, Balochistan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Islamabad, POF Wah Cantt, Army, Railway, Wapda, Police, Sui Gas and Air Force took part in the National Kabaddi Championship.
In mid March 2018, SBP’s 325-member contingent departed for Peshawar to take part in 4th Inter-Provincial Games. Punjab contingent won 139 medals including 65 gold, 44 silver and 30 bronze medals in the 4th Inter-Provincial Games.
SBP in April 2018 organised Swimming Training and Coaching Camp for Beginners at State of the Art Punjab Int’l Swimming Complex.
In May, SBP organized grand Inter-Division Punjab Open Boxing Championship where famous British boxer Amir Khan along with his wife Faryal graced the closing ceremony of at Al-Hamra Cultural Complex, Nishtar Park. Amir Khan, on that occasion had said Pakistan has to build boxing rings everywhere in the country for the true promotion of the game. “SBP will raise quality boxing rings across the province. I’m quite hope full that Pakistan will earn respect in boxing like cricket”.
In July 2018, SBP organised Lahore Division Inter-District U-16 Boys Championship at Nishtar Park Sports Complex. The Lahore Division Inter-District Under-16 Boys Championship was held under the slogan of ‘Green and Healthy Punjab’ and with the collaboration of sports associations. Hockey, football, table tennis, taekwondo, volleyball and badminton events were conducted during the championship.
In August, SBP organised 12th All-Pakistan McDonald’s Inter-School Age Group Swimming Championship at Punjab International Swimming Complex. In late August 2018, Punjab U-15 Boys Football Cup was inaugurated at Punjab Football Stadium. All the nine Divisional teams were divided into three groups – Group A (Lahore, Rawalpindi and DG Khan), Group B (Multan, Sargodha, Faisalabad), Group C (Sahiwal, Bahawalpur and Gujranwala).
In early November, Pakistan Swimming Federation (PSF) organised the competitions of National Open Men and Women Swimming Championship from Nov 2 to 4, 2018 with the collaboration of SBP. DG Sports Punjab Nadeem Sarwar inaugurated the championship at Punjab Int’l Swimming Complex while Punjab Sports Minister Rai Taimoor Khan Bhatti distributed prizes during the closing ceremony at Punjab International Swimming Complex pool.
During his Gujrat visit, DG Sports Punjab Nadeem Sarwar has urged the principals of various schools and colleges of Gujrat district to hold maximum sports activities in their respective schools and colleges after academic timing.
In mid November 2018, DG Sports Punjab Nadeem Sarwar announced the beginning of SBP’s Annual Sports Calendar after a period of 8 years from November 22, 2018 across the province.DG Sports Punjab Nadeem Sarwar said SBP will gather the data of all talented under-16 players at the end of all sports competitions of Annual Sports Calendar and then the shining players will be picked for top class camp training under the supervision of qualified coaches.The Phase I Inter-Tehsil level boys competitions of athletics, badminton, cricket, football, kabaddi, table tennis, volleyball and wrestling were completed on Dec 14 at different district headquarters.
In late November, 2018, SBP also holds a dinner ceremony in honour of national hockey team at Punjab Int’l Swimming Complex prior to the team’s departure for Hockey World Cup.
Punjab Sports Minister Rai Taimoor Khan Bhatti also inaugurated 30th National Senior Women Hockey Championship at National Hockey Stadium. As many as 11 women hockey teams from across the country took part in the championship.
In early December 2018, a 4-member Chinese delegation from China’s Liaoning Province signed an MoU with SBP for the growth of sports relations between the two countries.
Under the MoU, Pakistan will extend expertise in kabaddi, traditional wrestling and hockey whereas China will provide professional training to Pakistani players in the games like table tennis, gymnastics, martial arts and athletics. DG Sports Punjab Nadeem Sarwar and head of Chinese delegation Ms Helena Chen signed and exchanged MoU documents in the presence of Punjab Sports Minister Rai Taimoor Khan Bhatti at National Hockey Stadium.
In mid-December, DG Sports Punjab Nadeem Sarwar and DC Lahore Ms Saleha Saeed graced the Special Olympic Gala 2018 as guests of honour at a colourful ceremony at Punjab Stadium.
After a few days, Punjab Sports Minister Rai Taimoor Khan Bhatti made a revolutionary decision for the revival of sports at educational institutions. He said that every student will have to take part in at least one game. In this regard a 5-member committee was constituted under the leadership of DG Sports Punjab Nadeem Sarwar. The committee has been given a task to devise a proper mechanism to highlight significance of sports for students. It was also asked to chalk out an appropriate strategy to make at least one game mandatory for every student. In late December 2018, SBP, under the directives of DG Sports Punjab Nadeem Sarwar, also conducted a comprehensive 6-day coaching/training programme for U-16 players during winter vacations across the province from Dec 24 to 29. DG Sports Punjab Nadeem Sarwar said the training programme was launched at educational institutions to engage young players of the province in healthy sports activities during winter vacations.
On December 27, Punjab Sports Minister Rai Taimoor Khan Bhatti awarded cash prizes to wrestler Inam Butt, Haider Ali and Punjab women hockey team. Punjab Sports Minister Rai Taimoor Khan Bhatti awarded cheques of Rs one lakh each to national wrestler Inam Butt and Haider Ali for winning gold medals in Turkey Beach Wrestling World Championship and Jakarta Asian Para Games respectively. Punjab women hockey team was also awarded cash prize of Rs 50,000 for winning silver medal in 30th National Women Hockey Championship.