8000 Athletes featuring in 4th Abdul Wali Khan University Mardan Inter-College Games

Report by Ijaz Ahmad;

The 4th edition of the Abdul Wali Khan University Mardan Inter-College Games with a total of 8000 players participating in 16 male and 10 female disciplines got under way at Garden Campus of the University.

The 8000 athletes would compete in table tennis, kabaddi, basketball, squash, cross-country, gymnastics, hockey, badminton, volleyball, handball, tennis, athletics and touchball and Tchoukball in male and table tennis, badminton, athletics, volleyball and cricket in female games.

The colourful ceremony was started with the recitation from Holy Quran by Qari Atta Ullah, followed by the smart March Past of the all participating contingents. International footballer Nadeem Jan carried the national flag. Gold medalists of the university players at national level including Shahab Shah (Gymnastic), Nouman (Handball), Kainat Akbar (athletic), Mehreen Khan (athletic), Sana (Wushu), Aysha (wushu), Aysha Hakeem (volleyball), Amina (basketball), Reena (judo) and Adil Said (boxing) carried the University flag while wearing traditional dress of the Punjab, Sindh, Balochistan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Gilgit-Baltistan, Chitral, followed by Pari holding the Games flag.

Nadeem Jan took the oath on behalf the players while the police band and bank of the Govt Girls College Charsadda turned the whole complexion into a melodious one. The culture dresses of both the male and women students also depicting the colour of all the provinces while the military platoons of the Islamia Collegiate Peshawar, Govt Higher Secondary School Sharqi, Hoti and Govt Higher Secondary School Zaribi, Shamilat, Mardan received thundering applause from the sitting spectators on their stunning performance and various military formations which were largely enjoyed.

Soon after the National Anthem, the chief guest Professor Dr. Khurshid Khan announced the commencement of the Games with pigeons, balloons and banners inscribed with different sports slogans along with fire works.

The three national songs “Ma Bi Pakistan Hon”, “Dil Dil Pakistan”, “Ya Wadi Wadi Gomon” were presented by Num School System Mohib Banda, GHSS Hatayan and GHSS Bagadada enthralled the sitting spectators with their melodies voices.

The Karate, Gymnastic demonstrations and performance on traditional “Athern” dances mesmerized the large number of spectators who responded well with their cheering hands. The two prominent Pashto singers Khusheed Alam Khan and Irfan Kamal succeeded in compelling the sitting audience to come on their toes.

The torch of the Games carried by Shahab Shah, Nouman Khan, Kainat Akbar, Mahreen, Sana, Aysha Hakeem, Amina, Reena and Adil Said and at the end national boxer Adil lit up the Olympic flame.

Speaking on the occasion, Prof. Dr. Khursheed Khan welcomed the guests and players and said that it was heartening to see such a large number of students participation. He said December 16 is the day where we lost precious live of our dears and nears one in the APS incident. He also announced a One-Minute-Silence be observed to pay rich tribute and express solidarity with the families of APS martyred. He said winning and losing did not matter but the participation of the huge number of students matters. There should be passion in the players. He said that today is the anniversary of the martyrs and teachers of the Army Public School. It should be remembered - because this is not forgetful of the tragedy.

Vice Chancellor Abdul Wali Khan University Mardan Professor Dr. Khursheed Khan Niazi was the chief guest on this occasion who formally inaugurated the two months long game in which both male and female players from 40 affiliated colleges and 33 various departments are taking part. Pro Vice Chancellor Zahoor Ul Haq, Divisional Education Officer (DEO) Zulfiqar Ul Mulak, Deans of the various faculty of the University, professors, assistant professors, lecturers, two times SAF Gold Medalist in Karate Khalid Noor, international coach Shah Faisal Shah, international SAF medalist Muhammad Shah, Director Sports Farooq Hussain, AD Arshad Ali, international coach Muhammad Asim Khan, principals of various participating schools and colleges and large number of spectators were also present.