Lahore division, with 5183 points won the 73rd Punjab Games 2022 trophy on Thursday. Faisalabad division got second position with 4095 points while Bahawalpur division was placed third with 3522 points during the 4-day sports extravaganza.
Secretary Sports and Youth Affairs Punjab Ehsan Bhutta and Director General Sports Punjab M Tariq Qureshi awarded the winners’ trophy to Director Sports Nadeem Qaiser at the colourful closing ceremony at National Hockey Stadium. The runners-up and third position trophies were also given to Faisalabad and Bahawalpur Divisional Sports Officers on this occasion.
Director General Sports Punjab Muhammad Tariq Qureshi, Additional Secretary Sports Sanaullah, Director Admin Syed Umair Hassan, Director Sports Nadeem Qaiser, CEO Lahore Qalandars Atif Rana, Secretary General Punjab Olympic Association Idris Haider Khawaja, Deputy Director Tariq Wattoo, Chief Consultant SBP Hafeez Bhatti, Assistant Director Zahoor Ahmed, Assistant Director Youth Affairs Nazish Noor, Deputy Director Chand Perveen, former international women cricketer Shamsa Hashmi, all Divisional and District Sports Officers and a large number players and officials were also present at the grand closing ceremony.
The historic 73rd edition of Punjab Games were organised under the banner of Sports Board Punjab and with the collaboration of Punjab Olympic Association (PbOA) and Bank of Punjab (BoP). Secretary Sports and Youth Affairs Punjab Ehsan Bhutta and Director General Sports Punjab Muhammad Tariq Qureshi also distributed prizes and medals to top performers of 73rd Punjab Games.
All Divisional Sports Officers and top officials of Sports and Youth Affairs Department Punjab and Sports Board Punjab were given souvenirs at the largely attended closing ceremony. An attractive 'Dhol' performance was also presented in the concluding ceremony.
Secretary Sports and Youth Affairs Punjab Ehsan Bhutta was also the chief guest at the final match of 73rd Punjab Games football event at Punjab Stadium.
Secretary Sports and Youth Affairs Punjab Ehsan Bhutta was introduced with the players of Sahiwal and Multan division before the title clash. The team of referees also briefed about the event arrangements.
All the players, officials and representatives of divisional football associations expressed their gratitude to Punjab Govt, Sports & Youth Affairs Department and Sports Board Punjab for organising the mega event of Punjab Games in a befitting manner.
Talking on this occasion, Secretary Sports and Youth Affairs Punjab Ehsan Bhutta said the 73rd edition of Punjab Games will prove to be a milestone event
for producing new talented male and female athletes across the province in all sports disciplines.
In the baseball event at PU New Campus ground, Faisalabad division outplayed Multan by 14-0 to clinch Punjab Games baseball gold medal quite comfortably. The bronze medal went to Sahiwal which stunned Lahore by 16-6 in probably the biggest upset of the baseball event.
In the volleyball event at NPSC Gymnasium Hall, Faisalabad toppled Sahiwal by 3-0 in the final match with the score of 25-15, 25-15 and 25-18 and grabbed the coveted gold medal.
A large number of sports enthusiasts were present at the sports venues to enjoy the nail-biting competitions on the 4th and last day of 73rd Punjab Games at various sports venues of Nishtar Park Sports Complex on Thursday.
Secretary Sports and Youth Affairs Punjab Ehsan Bhutta and Director General Sports Punjab Muhammad Tariq Qureshi were the guests of honour at Punjab Games sports events. Director Admin Syed Umair Hassan, Director Sports Nadeem Qaiser, Chief Consultant SBP Hafeez Bhatti, SBP PRO Abdul Rauf Roofi and other officials were also present on this occasion.
73rd Punjab Games final points table
Team Points
Lahore 5183
Faisalabad 4095
Bahawalpur 3522
Sahiwal 2198
Sargodha 1817
Rawalpindi 1806
Gujranwala 941
Multan 883
Gujrat 874
DG Khan 521.