Minister Inaugurates Ramadan Games Football, Hockey Events In Mardan

Minister for Tourism, Culture, Sports, Archaeology and Youth Affairs, Khaber Pakhtunkhwa, Muhammad Atif Khan inaugurated football and hockey events as part of the ongoing Ramadan Floodlight Games at Mardan Sports Complex here on Saturday

PESHAWAR, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 18th May, 2019 ) :Minister for Tourism, Culture, Sports, Archaeology and Youth Affairs, Khaber Pakhtunkhwa, Muhammad Atif Khan inaugurated football and hockey events as part of the ongoing Ramadan Floodlight Games at Mardan Sports Complex here on Saturday.

He was also accompanied with Minister for Local Govt Sharam Tarakay, MPA Zahir Shah Toru, Director General Sports KP Asfandiyar Khan Khattak, District Nazim Ihtisham Khan, Tehsil Nazim Ayub Khan, Regional Sports Officer Kashif Farhan, Administrator Mardan Sports Complex Mir Bashar Khan and AD Sports Zakir Ullah.

Muhammad Atif Khan while speaking on this occasion soon after inaugurating the hockey and football events part of the Ramadan Floodlight Games lauded the organizing committee for involving maximum number of youngsters in healthy sports activities during the month of Ramadan.

The Minister assured the youth that all out resources would be utilized for ensuring quality facilities to them.

He said Ramadan Floodlight Games would be a regular feature and would be organized with more games next year. He said currently five different games comprising of Table Tennis, Badminton, Wushu, Karate, Taekwondo were being continued at Hayatabad Sports Complex Peshawar, kabaddi, tug of war, and athletic at Peshawar Sports Complex, football, badminton at Abdul Wali Khan Football Complex Charsadda, football and hockey at Sports Complex Mardan, hockey, badminton and football at Makan Bagh Sports Complex, Swat, cricket at Abbottabad Cricket Stadium and volleyball at Swabi Sports Complex with the aim to provide due opportunities to the youth of every district to participate actively.

He said in the current Annual Development Plan, Rs. 300 has been allocated for development and up-gradation of Mardan Sports Complex and Rs.

10 million for the separate construction of female gymnasium for the indoor games at the Complex besides the govt has approved construction of 25 new playing fields in District Mardan.

He said steps have been taken to up-grate all playing fields with floodlight facilities so that from next year more games and districts would be included in the 2nd edition of the Ramadan Floodlight Games.

Earlier, Nazim Mardan Ihtisham Khan lauded the Minister for personally visited the Games and inaugurated two games football and hockey part of the ongoing Ramadan Floodlight Games.

He said the provincial government was very keen in ensuring all out facilities to the youth for participating in the Inter-Club, Culture Games and other national and international events. He said giving sports scholarship would help youth to continue their studies as well.

He disclosed six teams including Mardan White, a team from Lahore, Faisalabad, Wah Can and Sadiqabad were also part of the overall games in hockey while in football a total of 35 registered clubs are taking part.

In football event being played at Tehmas Khan Football Stadium, Aajiz Club defeated Civil Quarters club by 5-3. The two teams were tied a goal-less draw and after the end of the stipulated 70-minute both were awarded five each penalty kicks on which Aajiz club availed all five while Civil Quarters club scored on three attempts and missed two.

In the Kabaddi event played at Qayyum Sports Complex, Charsadda and Mardan moved to the final. Mardan defeated Peshawar while Charsadda recorded victory against Nowshera.

Earlier, the Senior Minister Muhammad Atif Khan formally inaugurated the football and hockey event along with Sharam Tarakay, Minister for Local Govt KP.