Sports and Youth Affairs Department Punjab and Sports Board Punjab have carved out comprehensive sports system after the deliberations of four months under which a 2-year Annual Sports Calendar for 2024-25 has been formed to hold several major sports events in Nishtar Park Sports Complex.
This was revealed by Adviser to Chief Minister Punjab on Sports and Youth Affairs Wahab Riaz and Director General Sports Punjab Dr Asif Tufail at a crowded press conference at National Hockey Stadium. Director Sports Yasmeen Akhtar and other officials were also present on this occasion.
Addressing the press conference, Adviser to Chief Minister Punjab on Sports and Youth Affairs Wahab Riaz said that the competitions of Rustam Punjab Dangal and Fastest Athlete of Punjab will be organized early next year. The prize money of Rustam Punjab Dangal will be Rs 40 lakhs. “Any individual who is interested in running can participate in the Fastest Athlete of Punjab competition through open trials. The winner will be given a stipend of Rs 70,000”.
Adviser to Chief Minister Punjab on Sports and Youth Affairs Wahab Riaz shared that CM Punjab Syed Mohsin Naqvi directed the Sports Department to formulate a concrete programme to produce encouraging results in next national level competitions after Punjab finished 8th in the National Games in Quetta. “Initially, we have divided our programme into two parts – U-16 and professional. “So far the events of 6 games have been held under the U-16 programme and Rs 10,000 stipend will be given to the players selected at the provincial level from these games”.
In the professional category, 18 sports disciplines have been selected in which Sports Board Punjab will form its own teams. “In the first phase, we are working on six games - athletics, badminton, football, hockey, volleyball and tennis. The competitions of these six games will be held on January 14 to 20, 2024 in which the prize money of Rs 1 crore 65 lakh will be distributed”.
Elaborating further, Adviser to Chief Minister Punjab on Sports and Youth Affairs Wahab Riaz said that 90 players from these six games will be awarded stipends of Rs 70,000, Rs 50,000 and Rs 30,000 per month for one year respectively in diamond, gold and silver categories for the first time in the history of Punjab. “In the next phase, the events of the remaining 12 games will be conducted and similarly 90 top athletes will be picked from these games for awarding stipends. In this way, we will take around 270 young athletes on board and groom them properly”.
Adviser to Chief Minister Punjab on Sports and Youth Affairs Wahab Riaz further said we also introduced a level coaching system to produce top level coaches in different games. “Initially, we are training our own coaches under the supervision of master trainers and in the next phase we will invite other coaches to come and join our level coaching system”.
Appreciating the untiring efforts of Director General Sports Punjab Dr Asif Tufail for the club registration process in the province, Adviser to Chief Minister Punjab on Sports and Youth Affairs Wahab Riaz said that around 5,000 sports clubs from across the province have so far applied for registration. “The purpose of these initiatives is to prepare a roadmap for the young athletes of the province through which they can be nurtured and then serve at national and international level”.
He further said that a hockey match will be played between hockey Olympians and the National team on Quaid Day on Dec 25 at National Hockey Stadium.
Director General Sports Punjab Dr Asif Tufail while answering a question in the press conference said that sports clubs are being registered for the first time in the history of Punjab. “There is no doubt that the registration of sports clubs is a unique and most important campaign for the growth of true sports culture in the province. It is for the first time in Punjab’s sports history that over 5,000 applications have been received from all tehsils of Punjab for registration of sports clubs”.
Director General Sports Punjab Dr Asif Tufail further said that we have a huge amount of Rs two billions sports endowment fund to award stipends and prize money. “Every player can participate in these games. If the players of departments selected in diamond, gold and silver categories, then they will have to leave their department,” he added.
Director General Sports Punjab Dr Asif Tufail further said that this initiative has been taken to reward and retain top athletes. “Punjab Institutes of Sports Sciences has been established to produce talented coaches and trainers. It is a fact that every sports club registered with Sports Board Punjab will need a quality coach and Punjab’s trained coaches will have plenty of opportunities to serve in these clubs”.