Punjab’s biggest Azadi Marathon and Family Fun Race events concluded on Sunday with the participation of over four thousand male and female athletes of all age groups. Athletes from all over the country and other countries also participated in the marathon race.
Punjab Minister for Sports and Youth Affairs Malik Faisal Ayub Khokhar and US Consul General Lahore Ms Kristin K Hawkins were the guests of honour on this occasion. Punjab Minister for Sports and Youth Affairs Malik Faisal Ayub Khokhar inaugurated the Azadi Marathon by taking part in race while US Consul General Lahore Ms Kristin K Hawkins, showing her amazing fitness and stamina, completed 12km race quite successfully.
Overall, a hefty amount of more than Rs 18 lakh were distributed among the top performing athletes. Slogans of Pakistan Zindabad were raised in the historical marathon regarding Independence Day while national flags were hoisted at various places along the marathon route.
Talking to media on this occasion, Punjab Minister for Sports and Youth Affairs Malik Faisal Ayub Khokhar said that organizing the biggest marathon in the history of Punjab is the beginning of the development of sports. Several talented athletes have emerged from Azadi Marathon and Family Fun Race. “There were seven athletes in this Olympics and we are quite upbeat that at least 70 athletes will participate in the next Olympics and win 10 medals”.
Punjab Minister for Sports and Youth Affairs Malik Faisal Ayub Khokhar said DG Sports Punjab Pervez Iqbal and his team have organized a wonderful and memorable marathon. “Punjab Games are our next major sports event in which cash prizes of crores of rupees will be distributed. The top performing players of Azadi Marathon and Family Fun Race will be groomed further to participate in future national competitions”.
Director General Sports Punjab Pervez Iqbal in his media talk said that the big marathon of Punjab province has been organized under the vision of the Chief Minister of Punjab. “The participation of more than four thousand athletes in the marathon is a good omen for the future of sports in the province,” he added.
Director General Sports Punjab Pervez Iqbal further said that Sports Board Punjab has maintained its tradition of organizing a big sports event to celebrate the national Independence Day. “It is quite encouraging that the athletes from all over the country participated in the Azadi Marathon”.
M Riaz won the Azadi Marathon to earn a cash prize of Rs 3 lakh. He covered the distance of 12-km in 40.18. The runner up Haji Akhtar was given Rs 2 lakh while a cash prize of Rs 1 lakh was awarded to third position holder Ali Jabbar. The position holders from 4 to 10 were also given cash prizes of Rs 50,000 each.
In the 12-km marathon for girls, Iram Shahzadi of Sahiwal won the first position, Iman Yasin of Faisalabad won the second position and Khadija Afiat of Gilgit won the third position. The top three position holders of girls 12-km marathon were given cash prizes of Rs 1.5 lakh, Rs one lakh and Rs 50,000 respectively.
In the 3-km Family Fun Race, Kashf Siddique of Lahore grabbed first position, Mumtaz Naimat of Karachi stood second while Bushra Farman of DG Khan finished third. The winner of the 3-km Family Fun Race was given a prize of Rs. One lakh, the runner up was awarded Rs 75,000 while the third position holder pocketed Rs 50,000.
10-year-old Ammar Shahzad, 12-year-old Salmon Javed and special athlete M Ali were awarded prizes of Rs 50,000 each by DG Sports Punjab for completing the 12-km marathon.
Later, Punjab Minister for Sports and Youth Affairs Malik Faisal Ayub Khokhar and US Consul General Lahore Ms Kristin K Hawkins distributed the prizes among the top position holders of Azadi Marathon and Family Fun Race. Punjab Minister for Sports and Youth Affairs Malik Faisal Ayub Khokhar and DG Sports Punjab also presented a souvenir to US Consul General Lahore Ms Kristin K Hawkins on this occasion.
The participating athletes of Azadi Marathon kicked of the race from Liberty Chowk at 7.00am and covered the 12-km distance via Hafeez Center, Ch Zahoor Elahi Road, Main Market, KFC, Siddique Trade Center, Zafar Ali Road, EFU House, Canal Road, Punjab Cardiology, Shadman Underpass, Tollinton Market, Qurtaba Chowk, Shama Chowk, Ichhra Stop, Muslim Town, PCSIR, Gaddafi Stadium, Kalma Chowk, Center Point and wrapped up the race at Liberty Chowk.
Similarly, the participants of Family Fun Race started their race from Liberty Chowk and covered the 3-km distance via Hafeez Center, Ch Zahoor Elahi Road, Main Market, KFC and finished their race at Siddique Trade Center.
Director General Sports Punjab Pervez Iqbal, Sports Coordinator Malik Anoosh Khokhar, Director Admin M Kaleem, Director Sports Yasmeen Akhtar, Director Youth Affairs Rana Nadeem Anjum, Deputy Director Zahoor Ahmed, Deputy Director Ata ur Rehman, Deputy Director Chand Perveen, Tariq Khanzada, Chief Sports Consultant Hafeez Bhatti, District Sports Officer Lahore Tanveer Shah, all divisional and district sports officers and other officials were also present on this occasion.