The exciting competitions of Rising Punjab Games 2024 came to an end at Nishtar Park Sports Complex (NPSC) Gymnasium Hall on Friday.
On the last day, the finals of Rising Punjab Games Women’s and Men’s Singles Table Tennis Championship were organized in which Lahore’s Kalsoom Khan and Taimur Khan defeated their respective opponents to win Women’s and Men’s Singles table tennis titles.
Director General Sports Punjab Dr Asif Tufail congratulated the title winners in Rising Punjab Games 2024 Table Tennis Championship. It is worth mentioning that the Rising Punjab Games are being organized as the first event of Sports Board Punjab’s Annual Sports Calendar Programme. Overall, a hefty cash prize money of Rs 12 lakh was distributed among the winners and runners of Women’s and Men’s Singles and Team Event categories.
President Pakistan Table Tennis Federation (PTTF) Ahmer Malik was the chief guest at the closing ceremony. Director Sports Yasmeen Akhtar, Director Youth Affairs Rana Nadeem Anjum, President Punjab Table Tennis Association Irfanullah Khan, all Divisional Sports Officers of the province, Rauf Bajwa, Administrator NPSC Gymnasium Hall Mustfa Shah and other officials were also present on this occasion.
President PTTF Ahmer Malik, Director Sports Yasmeen Akhtar, Director Youth Affairs Rana Nadeem Anjum, President Punjab Table Tennis Association Irfanullah Khan and DG Khan Divisional Sports Officer Rana Hammad awarded trophies and medals to winners and other position holders at the closing ceremony.
Talking to media, President PTTF Ahmer Malik paid rich tribute to Director General Sports Punjab Dr Asif Tufail for organizing Rising Punjab Games events quite successfully. “DG Sports Punjab Dr Asif Tufail truly converted Sports Board Punjab into a vibrant and accessible sports facility”.
Ahmer Malik commended DG Sports Punjab Dr Asif Tufail for initiating scholarships for talented athletes of the province and nurturing budding players from grassroots level through the platform of Rising Punjab Games.
In Rising Punjab Games Women’s Singles Table Tennis final, Lahore’s Kalsoom Khan edged out her compatriot Perniya Zaman Khan in a thrilling title clash by 4-3 with the set score of 12-10, 2-11, 7-11, 11-9, 5-11, 11-1 and 11-8. After winning the opening set by 12-10, Kalsoom lost the next two sets by 2-11 and 7-11 due to Perniya’s Khan’s magnificent fightback.
Kalsoom regained her energies for a brief time and won the fourth set with 11-9 points. Then Perniya won the 5th set by 11-5 which gave her a 3-2 lead. At this point of tense final, Kalsoom regrouped herself and won the next two sets by 11-1 and 11-8 to wrap up a splendid 4-3 victory.
In Men’s Singles final match, Lahore’s Taimur Khan dominated the proceedings right from the beginning and did not give any room to his experienced rival Faizan Zahoor of Faisalabad to settle down and won the title decider comfortably by 4-1 with the set score of 11-5, 11-6, 11-3, 8-11 and 11-7.