LAHORE - Pakistan on Wednesday rewrote another chapter in history of strengthening Pak-India sports relations as Chief Minister Mian Shahbaz Sharif inaugurated the Punjab International Sports Festival amid festivity and colour as 40,000 spectators cheered the presence of 26 foreign teams here at the National Hockey Stadium.
Indian Punjab Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal was guest of honour at the inauguration of the eight-day grand event and Dosti Cup for deaf and dumb teams. Deputy Speaker. chief organiser of the festival, DG Sports Board and Youth Affairs Punjab and the top officials of the province were also present.
Welcoming Punjab Deputy Chief Minister’s efforts, the CM Punjab said he was so enthused by the initiatives of Badal that he would personally went as chief guest in the third edition of ensuing World Cup Kabaddi to be held in Bathinda on December 15, 2012.
Shahbaz Sharif said 27 countries would vie for various events of males and females in the festival which will bring peoples closer besides portraying a better image of Pakistan.
“Pakistan and India would test their skills in hockey, kabaddi, tug of war and wrestling. Punjab Cup will be organised between the two countries on bilateral basis after every two years.
In Dosti Cup, deaf and dumb teams of India and Pakistan will clash in cricket, kabaddi, wrestling, badminton male and female, table tennis and chess. It was for the first time that a big contingent of 1381 players plus their coaches and managers have descended on the soil of Pakistan for these games,” he added.
The Chief Minister Punjab and the Indian Deputy Chief Minister took salute from the contingents of as many as 26 countries who participated in march past in their country colours. Station Commander Navy Commander Akbar Naqi and Iran’s Ambassador M Saeed Asadi were prominent among the participants. “The international festival will give new dimension to the youth of the country. We are not talking about one city or a province but it is about the entire country,” said the CM.
“The efforts of the youth will send a soft image of the country in the world and showcase the talent the youth of Pakistan possess. This festival united the regional teams to one bound and improve the relations between the participating countries,” he said.
Shahbaz Sharif termed it a golden day in Pak-India sports relations while Sukhbir Singh Badal described it a historic day in the history of India.
Speaking on the occasion, the Punjab Deputy Chief Minister said: “I have been endeavouring since last years to promote traditional games especially between India and Pakistan.”
Badal said that two World Cup Kabaddi Tournaments organised by Punjab government had reiterated the resolve of people of both countries to regain the glory in traditional games of Asia and make collective efforts for that. He said that his five-day visit to Pakistan was aimed at strengthening trade, commerce and sports relations between both countries and said that Dosti Cup would bring India and Pakistan together to hone their sports talent. “When I will go back to my country, I will recommend my government to organise such events which aim at promoting sports besides bringing closer people of different nationalities closer,” the Indian Deputy CM concluded.
Eight int’l teams to contest in rugby: As many as eight international rugby teams are taking part in the Punjab International Sports Festival which will start from today (Thursday) at DHA rugby ground. The participation of international teams in the events hosted by Pakistanis at their homeland is a good omen towards the promotion of rugby in the country.
All the 12 teams were divided into two pools. The finals of the tournament will be played tomorrow (Friday) while on November 10, a rugby 15s exhibition match between Pakistan XI and International XI will be held.