As many as 14,067 people participated in the Punjab Youth Festival district games on Sunday of which 3,454 moved to the next round.
At Iqbal Park Wrestling Stadium, Rana Shoaib won the karate championship final. Farhan Taj won the second position. Taekwondo competitions were held at the Gymnasium Hall of the Punjab University New Campus where Muhammad Zeeshan defeated Muhammad Usman.
In Kasur, Sheikhupura and Nankana Sahib districts, 1,064 people participated and 310 returned winners.
As many as 704 people from Chakwal, Attock and Jhelum districts participated in several events, of which 156 won. As many as 3,042 people from Bhakkar, Khushab and Mianwali participated and 1072 returned successful.
In Gujranwala, 5,887 contestants from Hafizabad, Sialkot, Mandi Bahauddin, Gujrat and Narowal districts competed and 831 moved to the next round.
As many as 988 people participated from Jhang, Toba Tek Singh and Chiniot districts and 307 won.
In Okara and Pakpattan, 208 competed, 104 were adjudged winners. In Multan, 388 people from Vehari, Lodhran and Khanewal districts participated in various games and 136 won. Bahawalnagar and Rahim Yar Khan districts of Bahawalpur division saw some 672 players in action and 192 moved to the next round. As many as 1,114 people competed in Rajanpur, Layyah and Muzaffargarh and 146 won.
Kabaddi
Nishtar Town won the kabaddi event of the Punjab Youth Festival. As many as 11 teams of various towns participated. Nishtar Town beat Aziz Bhatti Town with 32-22 score. MPA Mian Naseer was the chief guest of the event. MPA Malik Saiful Malook and DCO Dr Ahmad Javeed Qazi were also present.
Registration of volunteers
The registration of volunteers for the Punjab Youth Festival 2014 was completed at the National Hockey Stadium on Sunday. Volunteers group in-charge Muhammad Waseem the administration had extended the registration target from 17,000 to 30,000 due to the interest shown by the youth. Sports Board Director General Usman Anwar told newsmen the volunteers would help set new world record attempts for the national anthem and the human flag.
Published in The Express Tribune, February 3rd, 2014.