The Sports Board Punjab has announced the organisation of leagues in hockey, kabaddi and football as part of its efforts to promote sports and provide more competitive opportunities to athletes across the province.
Director General Sports Punjab Muhammad Tariq Qureshi made this announcement while chairing an important meeting regarding CM Punjab Sports Academies Phase-II and Annual Sports Calendar at the National Hockey Stadium on Tuesday.
Divisional Sports Officer Lahore Rauf Bajwa, Deputy Director Zarina Waqar attended the meeting in person while while all divisional and district sports officers from across Punjab participated through video link. The meeting also took important decisions regarding the National Sports Policy and the Annual Sports Programme.
Addressing the meeting, Director General Sports Punjab Muhammad Tariq Qureshi said that the leagues in the national sport hockey, kabaddi and football would be organized at tehsil, district and divisional level soon. “The Pak-China Games, Punjab Games and Youth Games would also be organised shortly”.
Director General Sports Punjab Muhammad Tariq Qureshi further said that the Phase-II of the CM Punjab Sports Academies would commence soon in all divisions and districts of the province. “The athletes would also receive training at 409 private sports clubs and academies”.
Director General Sports Punjab Muhammad Tariq Qureshi said that private coaches across Punjab would also be trained under the “Train the Trainer” programme to further improve the quality of sports coaching in the province. He directed all divisional sports officers to send details of sports activities conducted under the annual sports calendar from April to date to the Lahore office.
Director General Sports Punjab Muhammad Tariq Qureshi further said the players of the CM Punjab Sports Academies in Gujranwala are participating in international events, describing their participation at the international level as a welcome development. “The athletes emerging from the sports academies would bring honour to the country at the international level”.
Director General Sports Punjab Muhammad Tariq Qureshi said that certificates are being awarded to all players who had received training at the sports academies. “The other provinces are still thinking about promoting sports, but Punjab already working to identify talent at the grassroots level through sports academies”.
Director General Sports Punjab Muhammad Tariq Qureshi said that the hockey league will be organised with the consultation of Pakistan Hockey Federation President Mohyuddin Ahmed Wani and Olympian Shahbaz Senior. “The Sports Department Punjab is working day and night for the promotion and development of sports in the province”.
Director General Sports Punjab Muhammad Tariq Qureshi directed all the divisional sports officers to shortlist the promising players from their respective academies.
Director General Sports Punjab Muhammad Tariq Qureshi said that the finals of the CM Punjab Champions League would be played soon. He also appreciated the divisional sports officers of Bahawalpur, DG Khan and Multan for organizing CM Punjab Champions League matches in a successful manner.