Fulfilling another promise of Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz, Provincial Minister for Sports and Youth Affairs Malik Faisal Ayub Khokhar officially launched country’s biggest ever sports event – Khelta Punjab Games 2024 at a crowded press conference at National Hockey Stadium on Thursday.
Punjab Sports Minister Malik Faisal Ayub Khokhar also unveiled the logo of Khelta Punjab Games on this occasion. Director Admin Dr M Kaleem, Deputy Director Zahoor Ahmed and other officials were also present on this occasion.
Addressing the press conference, Provincial Minister for Sports and Youth Affairs Malik Faisal Ayub Khokhar said the U-22 competitions of Khelta Punjab Games will be organized in three tiers - Inter-Club events at District Level, Inter-District competitions at Divisional Level and Inter-Divisional events at Provincial Level. “By organizing biggest event Khelta Punjab Games, we are going to fulfill Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz's promise which she made in her first speech,” he added.
Punjab Minister for Sports and Youth Affairs Malik Faisal Ayub Khokhar informed that the inter-club level competitions of Khelta Punjab Games will be organised from October 2 to 11 while inter-district level events will be held from October 16 to 29. “The inter-division level events will be played from November 2 to 7 and Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz will be the chief guest at the closing ceremony of Khelta Punjab Games on November 7 at Punjab Stadium,” he informed.
Provincial Minister for Sports and Youth Affairs Malik Faisal Ayub Khokhar informed that one million male and female athletes and 15 thousand clubs will participate in the mega event of Khelta Punjab Games. “The cash prizes worth Rs 100 million will be distributed in the Khelta Punjab Games. Overall, a hefty amount of Rs 300 million will be spent on the holding of mega games,” he added.
Revealing more details of grand sports event, Provincial Minister for Sports and Youth Affairs Malik Faisal Ayub Khokhar said that the competitions of six games - athletics, cricket (tape ball), badminton, football, hockey and kabaddi will be conducted at inter-club district level. “The competitions of 12 games - athletics, cricket (tape ball), badminton, football, hockey, kabaddi, basketball, mat wrestling, taekwondo, volleyball, archery and table tennis will be organised at inter-district divisional level”.
He informed that the cash prizes of up to 11 lakh rupees will be distributed in each district at the inter-club level events while prize money worth more than Rs 400 million will be given at inter-district level competitions. “Sports associations and federations are important stakeholders in the promotion of sports and we are also taking them on board for the successful holding of Khelta Punjab Games,” he maintained.
Provincial Minister for Sports and Youth Affairs Malik Faisal Ayub Khokhar said that this grand event will also serve as talent hunt programme. “We will groom and train the players of different games so that they can exhibit their talent at national and international level in future. It will be the first time that SBP’s own teams will be formed in multiple games through Khelta Punjab Games”.
Faisal Ayub Khokhar further informed that Punjab Sports Department will give daily and traveling allowances to the participating players. “More than 2,000 players will be given a kit of Rs 10,000 each at inter-division level while at inter-division level, the players will be given Rs 2,000 daily allowance. The inter-club level registration will be held for the next seven days for which different camps will be organized,” he added.