The kabaddi teams of Lahore, Faisalabad, Sahiwal and Gujranwala divisions stormed into the semifinal of Summer Games 2024 kabaddi event after winning their preliminary round matches against their respective opponents at the Punjab Stadium on Friday night.
Sahiwal division kabaddi team defeated DG Khan by a margin of 33-25 in the opening match of the event. Lahore division kabaddi team toppled Multan by a huge difference of 52-34 in the next match. The Faisalabad division kabaddi team proved too strong for Sargodha boys and handed them a mauling of 39-13. In their next encounter, Sahiwal trounced Rawalpindi by 52-34 while in the fifth match of the event, Gujranwala routed Bahawalpur by a big margin of 58-37.
Earlier, the third and last phase of Summer Games 2024 kabaddi event got under way at Punjab Stadium here on Friday night. Director Admin Dr M Kaleem, who was the chief guest on this occasion, inaugurated the event.
Director Youth Affairs Rana Nadeem Anjum, Director Sports Yasmeen Akhtar, Coordinator Sports Malik Anoosh Khokhar, Deputy Director Zahoor Ahmed, Deputy Director Ataur Rehman, Chief Sports Consultant Hafeez Bhatti, renowned wrestler Nadeem Pehlwan, all Divisional Sports Officers and a large number of kabaddi players and officials were also present on this occasion.
Director Admin Dr M Kaleem was introduced with the players and officials of all teams prior to the event. The National Anthem was also presented at the inaugural ceremony. Players and kabaddi fans danced on the drum beat at the opening ceremony.
Talking to media at the inaugural ceremony, Director Admin Dr M Kaleem said that Summer Games 2024 events are being organized in accordance with the vision of Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz and under the supervision of Punjab Minister of Sports and Youth Affairs Malik Faisal Ayub Khokhar. “Top level facilities are being provided to all participating players and officials on the directions of Director General Sports Punjab Pervez Iqbal”.
Director Admin Dr M Kaleem said that the teams from 9 divisions of Punjab are participating in the Kabaddi Championship. “Today is a historic occasion for young kabaddi players to showcase and prove their talent”.
He said that kabaddi is the game of our land and people of Punjab love this game a lot. “Kabaddi is the identity of Punjab. Our Scrutiny Committee will select talented players from this championship. Prior to this event, several talented players have emerged from hockey and volleyball events of Summer Games 2024”.