Inter-varsity athletics championship 2012 start in Peshawar

Peshawar, The 36th All Pakistan Inter-University Athletics Championship-2012 has begun at Qayyum Stadium on Thursday. Athletes from 30 universities of the country are participating in the event arranged by Sarhad University, Peshawar.

Speaking at the opening ceremony, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Minister for Sports Aqil Shah praised the management of Sarhad University for conducting this major event in Peshawar. He has said that all the support would be provided to all universities, colleges and schools for organising sports competitions in Qayyum Stadium.

The minister said that whenever SAF Games were awarded to Pakistan, it would be Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government’s greatest effort to hold the same in Peshawar.

Meanwhile, world’s famous Japanese wrestler Mohammad Hussain Inoki has said that the warm welcome and hospitality extended by the residents of Peshawar to his 13-member wrestling team was a proof of the fact that people of this region were very hospitable and peace-loving.

This he said on Thursday during his visit to Government Higher Secondary School No. 1, Peshawar Cantt, and later speaking at a lunch hosted in honour of the Japanese team by sports minister Aqil Shah, said an official donation.

On arrival at the school the teachers and students garlanded Mr Inoki and his team members. Addressing students of the school, Mr Inoki said that the brightness in eyes of the students showed that they were very intelligent and talented.

Mr Inoki’s team members also played a friendly match of tug of war and wrestling with students of the school. National anthems of Pakistan and Japan were also played on the occasion.

Speaking on the occasion, the sports minister said that Mr Inoki and his team of wrestlers had come to Peshawar for promotion of peace. He said that the purpose had been achieved by successfully holding the Inoki’s Wrestling for Peace Festival in Peshawar and representing soft image of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa to the world.