LAHORE - The 114th Annual Sports of the Government College University (GCU) Lahore Thursday commenced at a grand inaugural ceremony here at the college ground.
About 2,000 students from 26 departments of GCU Lahore took part in the ceremony marked by a grand march past, sports day oath and athletics meet. The Department of English bagged the prestigious trophy of the ‘Best March Past Contingent’ while Department of Physical Education stood second. The GCU athletes took oath that they would take part in the annual games abiding by the rules and in the true spirit of sportsmanship for the glory of sports and the honour of their teams. The musicians from GCU Nazir Ahmed Music Society (NAMS) presented a special anthem for 114th GCU Athletics Meet.
In his message, Vice Chancellor Prof Dr M Khaleequr Rahman said: “Sports teach tolerance and encourage the spirit of competitiveness. I always encourage the students to take part in sports and healthy co-curricular activities and I also increased funds for such healthy activities.”
The GCU VC said that the university had made one of the finest sports nurseries for producing and grooming sportsmen for national teams, besides it was involving its students and faculty members in healthy sports activities. He advised the students to never compromise on the standards of sportsmanship which was more important than winning an event.
Addressing the opening ceremony, GCU Director Sports Khadim Ali Khan said that the importance given to sports by the developed countries was no less than education. “The GCU leadership has provided full encouragement and conducive environment to the sports activities right from the beginning,” he added.
Later, the first day of the annual sports event was marked by 800-metre race which was won by M Awais. In 3,000-metre race, Urdu Department student Wasim Sajid got first position, while Department of Physical Education’s student Noreen Asghar crossed the finish line first in women’s 200m race. The student of Physical Education Department M Khan clinched the first position in men’s shot put. The athletics events of 5,000 metre race, 1,500 metre race, triple jump, and pole vault will be held at the GCU ground today (Friday). However, the most enthralling Gymkhana events which include ministerial staff race, naib qasid race, four-legged race, cricket throw ball for girls, pillow fighting, staff children race, stilt race, 60-metre race, sack race, chatti race for girls and obstacle race will be held at the closing ceremony at GCU Oval ground on Sunday.