The third day of the Punjab Youth Festival district-level games saw 7,332 participants in action. Of these, 2,435 people moved to the next round.
Samanabad Town defeated Ravi Town in the tennis ball cricket final played at Iqbal Park Sports Complex. Ravi Town beat Gulberg Town in the hardball cricket match.
In the volleyball championship Ravi Town defeated Wagha Town. Akram Ali won the taekwondo encounter against Khawar Ali.
As many as 1,461 people participated in Kasur, Sheikhupura and Nankana Sahib districts and 562 people won. As many as 865 athletes from Chakwal, Attock and Jhelum competed and 210 moved to the next round.
As many as 1,403 people from Bhakkar, Khushab and Mianwali participated in various contests and 506 won.
In Gujranwala, 372 contestants of Hafizabad, Sialkot, Mand Bahauddin, Gujrat and Narowal districts exhibited their potential in various games but 155 met with success. As many as 315 players featured in the PYF events in Faisalabad Division. The competitions were held in Jhang, Toba Tek Singh and Chiniot districts where 111 were successful.
In Okara and Pakpattan districts of Sahiwal division, 260 athletes showed their skills in different PYF events out of whom, 100 were adjudged victorious. In Multan division, 558 players of Vehari, Lodhran and Khanewal districts participated and 216 won. In Bahawalnagar and Rahimyar Khan, 721 people competed in various games and 312 won. As many as 1,386 people participated in Dera Ghalzi Khan and 263 people won.
Athletics
Muhammad Shafiq won the 100-metre race held at the Punjab Stadium. Ali Zaman stood second and Hasnain Ali was third.
In the 400-metre race, Muhammad Shafiq won again. Muhammad Ishaq was second and Muhammad Haroon was third. The 800-metre race was won by Muhammad Ishaq. Muhammad Ali secured the second position and Faisal Arshad was third. The long jump event was won by Asif Rao. Waqar Ahmad stood second and Atif Suhail was third. Atif Ali claimed the first position in the shot put event, Nadeem Akhtar was second and Umair Aslam stood third.
Published in The Express Tribune, February 1st, 2014.