Secretary Sports and Youth Affairs Punjab Asadullah Faiz said Savate is a new game in this region and Pak-Sri Lanka 3rd International Savate Championship will help a lot in the promotion of this game among the young generation; he said this while addressing a press conference along with Director General Sports Punjab Muhammad Tariq Qureshi at National Hockey Stadium on Wednesday.
Director Sports Nadeem Qaiser, Director Youth Affairs Syed Omair Hasan, District Sports Officer Tanveer Shah, Chairman Pakistan Savate Federation Malik Iftikhar, Secretary Ms Ambreen, President Sri Lanka Savate Federation Prasad Wickramasinghe, coach Lanka Rathnayake, captain K Dilaxiny, Pakistan team coach Saeed Butt and captain Daood Mirza were also present on this occasion.
Addressing the press conference, Secretary Sports and Youth Affairs Punjab Asadullah Faiz said the Sports and Youth Affairs Department Punjab has multidimensional responsibilities to promote sports culture across the province. “We are focusing on all sports including traditional games and new emerging games to bring true sports culture across the province”.
Secretary Sports and Youth Affairs Punjab Asadullah Faiz welcomed the visiting Sri Lankan team. “Pakistan and Sri Lanka have had very strong and cordial relations for a long time. The tour of the Sri Lankan team in these circumstances is commendable. Sports and Youth Affairs Department Punjab will provide all facilities for the smooth holding of Savate Championship”.
Revealing the details of Savate Championship, Secretary Sports and Youth Affairs Punjab Asadullah Faiz informed that the opening ceremony of the championship will be held on June 30 at 12.30pm. “As many as 13 competitions (4 boys and 9 girls) will be organised during the 3rd International Pak-Sri Lanka International Savate Championship being organised under the auspices of Sports and Youth Affairs Department Punjab”.
Secretary Sports and Youth Affairs Punjab Asadullah Faiz said Sports and Youth Affairs Department Punjab has completed all arrangements for the 3rd International Savate Championship. “The matches of 3rd Savate Championship will be held on June 30 and July 1 at Nishtar Park Sports Complex Gymnasium Hall”.
President Sri Lanka Savate Federation Prasad Wickramasinghe, on this occasion, expressed his hope that there will be good competitions in the championship. “We are very happy to visit Pakistan. This will be a very special championship because there will be more women than men in the championship”.
He said Pakistan and Sri Lanka have decades-old friendship and the two countries are fully cooperating with each other in multiple fields especially sports. “The people of Pakistan love sports. Pakistan is a safe country for holding all kinds of international sports competitions,” he added.