Independence Day sports competitions organised by Sports Board Punjab started with great enthusiasm across the province. As part of the celebrations, an Independence Day hockey match was played at the National Hockey Stadium on Tuesday.
Director General Sports Punjab Muhammad Tariq Qureshi was the chief guest at the match. Deputy Director Chaudhary Zahoor Ahmed, Deputy Director Zarina Waqar, hockey coach Razia Malik and Lahore Hockey Association President, along with other officials, were also present on the occasion.
Speaking on the occasion, Director General Sports Punjab Muhammad Tariq Qureshi said that Independence Day was being celebrated in a grand manner through a series of sports activities. He said that Sports Board Punjab was taking comprehensive measures for the promotion and development of hockey, Pakistan’s national sport, and providing young players with opportunities to improve their skills.
Director General Sports Punjab Muhammad Tariq Qureshi termed the Independence Day sports competitions a positive initiative aimed at promoting sports and providing young athletes with opportunities to demonstrate their talent. He said the Independence Day competitions are being organised under the leadership of Punjab Sports Minister Malik Faisal Ayub Khokhar.
Director General Sports Punjab Muhammad Tariq Qureshi said that the badminton, table tennis, hockey and football competitions will continue until August 14. “The CM Punjab Cycling Race would be held on August 14 from Lahore to Sahiwal, with hundreds of cyclists are expected to participate in this grand race. Punjab Sports Minister Malik Faisal Ayub Khokhar would be the chief guest at the cycling race”.
The hockey match was played between Sports Board Green and Sports Board Pink. Sports Board Green defeated Sports Board Pink by 2-1 in an exciting encounter. The players also raised enthusiastic slogans of ‘Pakistan Zindabad’ during the match.
The Independence Day Laser Run events were organized at Punjab Stadium in which more than 50 boys and girls participated from across the province. The young athletes aged between 6 and 19 years demonstrated impressive enthusiasm and competitive spirit in the Laser Run competitions.
In the U-19 girls category, Amina Rafiq secured first position, Amina Bibi finished second while Jannat Malik took third position. In the U-19 boys’ category, Abdullah Ranja emerged victorious, while M Shahmeer Ali finished runner-up. In the U-17 girls category, Meerab Shehzad claimed first position, Manahil Faisal secured second and Amina Naveed finished third.
In the Masters Laser Run, Ashfaq Ali won first position, Safdar finished second, and Ehtisham took third position. In the open category, Taha Noor secured first position, followed by Abdul Wahid in second and M. Areeb in third. In the U-14 boys category, Azaan Ali claimed first position, Awais Saleemi finished second, while Shan Shahid secured third position.
In the U-16 Girls' event, Sakina Iftikhar secured first position, Fakhra Bibi finished second, and Ayesha Salman took third position. In the U-14 Girls' event, Hania Saifdar stood first, Dua finished second, and Sawaira Ishaq secured third position. In the U-13 Girls' event, Fatima Rani claimed first position, Hareem Rahim finished second, and Hamna Arif took third position.