The 5-day Inter-Division events of Khelta Punjab Games 2024-25 were concluded with a colourful grand closing ceremony at Nishtar Park Sports Complex Gymnasium Hall on Monday.
Provincial Minister for Sports and Youth Affairs Malik Faisal Ayub Khokhar was the chief guest at the prize distribution ceremony. He also announced the closing of Inter-Division phase of Khelta Punjab Games.
Parliamentary Secretary Sports Punjab Anas Mahmood, Secretary Sports and Youth Affairs Punjab Muzaffar Khan Sial, Director General Sports and Youth Affairs Punjab Khizar Afzaal Chaudhry, Director Admin Dr M Kaleem, Director Sports Rana Nadeem Anjum, Idris Haider Khawaja, all divisional sports officers and other officials were also present on this occasion.
Lahore Division emerged as the champion of Khelta Punjab Games with 16 gold medals followed by Faisalabad and Gujranwala divisions who clinched 12 and 11 gold medals respectively. Provincial Minister for Sports and Youth Affairs Malik Faisal Ayub Khokhar gave away the winning trophy to Divisional Sports Officer Lahore Rana Nadeem Anjum and his team.
While addressing the closing ceremony, Punjab Minister for Sports and Youth Affairs Malik Faisal Ayub Khokhar said that after hectic efforts, sports complexes have been restored across the province. “Promoting the sports culture in every street of the province is the vision of Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz”.
Punjab Minister for Sports and Youth Affairs Malik Faisal Ayub Khokhar further said that 2,200 athletes have been selected for the first time purely on merit instead of old traditional methods. “The successful holding of Khelta Punjab Games is the first step towards bright sports future. Next year, two and a half million players from across the country will be participating with enhanced prize money and excellent arrangements”.
Punjab Minister for Sports and Youth Affairs Malik Faisal Ayub Khokhar said that it is for the first in Punjab’s history that every athlete of Khelta Punjab Games has been awarded his cash prize on the spot. “Besides hefty cash prizes, all the participating athletes of Inter-Division Khelta Punjab Games will be awarded electric bikes of approximately Rs 50 crore announced by the Punjab Chief Minister at the gran inaugural ceremony on January 30”.
Punjab Minister for Sports and Youth Affairs Malik Faisal Ayub Khokhar said that the gold medalist athletes will not be left alone after this event. “They will be provided full financial support so that they can fully focus on their future sports challenges and targets. We will not only take care of winners but also look after the struggling players as well. Now the players will no longer be a burden on their parents, they will be extended financial assistance though Punjab Sports Endowment Fund”.
Punjab Minister for Sports and Youth Affairs Malik Faisal Ayub Khokhar said that the day is not far when these players will represent the country at international sports competitions. “Punjab Sports Department will promote true sports culture at Tehsil and Union Council level and will establish multi-purpose playgrounds”.
Secretary Sports and Youth Affairs Punjab Muzaffar Khan Sial, in his address, said that Punjab Sports Department will provide full resources to enhance the capabilities of talented male and female athletes. “The sports culture will be promoted across the province as per directions of Punjab Chief Minister and in this regard healthy environment will be provided to potential athletes”.
Secretary Sports and Youth Affairs Punjab Muzaffar Khan Sial said that 58 sports facilities have been revived. “Besides this, multi-purpose sports complexes will be built in 52 such constituencies of the province which had no sports facility in the past”.
Director General Sports and Youth Affairs Khizar Afzaal Chaudhry on this occasion said that all workers, sweepers and officers have worked hard for the success of Khelta Punjab Games. “It is quite heartening that all the victorious athletes were given their cash prizes on the spot,” he added.
Director General Sports and Youth Affairs Khizar Afzaal Chaudhry said that best facilities were provided to all participating players during the 5-day Inter-Division phase of Khelta Punjab Games. “During the mega event, as many as 120 medals and hefty prize money of Rs one crore were distributed among the top performers of the event,” he added.
Secretary Sports Punjab Muzaffar Khan Sial and DG Sports Khizar Afzaal Chaudhry presented a souvenir to Punjab Minister for Sports and Youth Affairs Malik Faisal Ayub Khokhar.
Gujranwala division shocked strong Faisalabad football team by 5-3 goals on penalty shoot-out in the football final of Inter-Division phase Khelta Punjab Games, the last event of 5-day sports extravaganza at Punjab Stadium on Monday. Additional Secretary Sports Mian Usman Ali was the chief guest on this occasion.
Both the teams had scored one goal each in the stipulated time of title clash. Abdullah Babar gave Gujranwala division 1-0 lead in 26th minute through a beautiful field goal. However, M Waqas of Faisalabad leveled the score in the 64th minute when he sent the ball into goalpost after a well-planned move by the forward line of his team.