ISLAMABAD - The grand opening ceremony of Inter Board’s Sports (Girls) Competitions 2016 held at Pakistan Sports Complex on Saturday.
Inter Provincial Coordination Minister (IPC) Mian Riaz Hussain Pirzada graced the occasion as chief guest, while 22 boards chairmen and secretaries along with PSB officials and other dignitaries were also present. It was a wonderful sight to witness girls’ from 22 boards staging march past.
The chairman host board Mirpur, AJK, Zaheer Chaudhary, delivered the welcome address and Secretary IBCC thanked the Minister IPC for holding the Inter-Board’s sports competitions from last three years and hoped that this kind of events would be organised at national level every year by Pakistan Sports Board.
Mian Riaz welcomed the players, chairmen boards and media and praised Pakistan Sports Board for organising such a graceful event in a befitting manner. He advised the female players to take part in the event with a spirit to stand first in every competition. He also briefed to the audience about the South Asian Games 2016 Pakistan’s performance and especially female player’s participation. The chief Gguest announced Rs5000 each for those who recited the Holy Quran, Naat-e- Rasool (SAW) and for the girls who presented Milli Naghma.
He also announced the winners of these competitions would get chance to go abroad for the trainings and in future we would hold six events instead of four. He also quoted the message of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif that the young generation has to come up with games to show the soft image of Pakistan at international level.
The oath was taken from all the players by Rimsha of the host Board and the chief guest declared the Inter- Board’s Sports (Girls) competition, 2016 opened in which more than 600 female players including officials from 22 boards across the country are participating in Athletics, Table tennis, Badminton and Hockey.
Syed Habib Shah Deputy Director General (Tech), Muhammad Shahid Deputy Director General (Acad), Agha Amjadullah Deputy Director General (Facilities), Muhammad Azam Dar Director (Establishment & Coordination) Director Media Shzai Ejaz, Assistant Director Hostels Malik Imtiaz Hussain and others were also present on the occasion.
While talking to The Nation Mian Riaz accepted Pakistani athletes managed to win 19 gold’s in 2010 Dhaka Games. He also promised to distribute amount saved from four boards non-participation equally among the participating boards.
When asked about poor quality of food and girls’ should be provided meal at PSB premises from their own hostels, Mian Riaz issued orders to ensure meal to be provided in the PSB hostels and ensure no compromise on quality. When asked about why cut was made to last year’s amount while in other countries amount is raised every year, the Minister promised to take up the issue with the PM and ensure next time substantial amount would be spared.
When asked about announcing special incentives for SAG medal winners, Riaz said they have rules of business for the international games medal winners andwould give incentives to players and would try to enhance the amount set in rules of business.
On the inaugural day hockey, table tennis, badminton and athletics events were played. In 800m athletics Zainab Khan BISE Rawalpindi won gold medal, Wajeeha of BISE Mirpur AJK won silver and Mana Nadeem of BIE Karachi bronze. In long jump, Nabeela Kausar of BISE Mirpur AJK won gold, Bakhat Baree of BISE Sahiwal silver and Rozeena Ijaz of BISE DG Khan won bronze. In shot put, Haseena Ali BISE Mardan gold, Nida Akbar BISE Multan silver and Kashifa BISE Sahiwal bronze.