PESHAWAR, Sept 20: President NWFP Olympic Association Syed Aqil Shah on Wednesday lauded the performance of the NWFP contingent in Inter-provincial Games but at the same time criticised Sarhad Sports Board for its unproductive role in promoting sports in the province.

“All the affiliated units of NWFP Olympic Association deserve to be warmly congratulated for their outstanding performance, but the swimming contingent gets special praise for winning 24 medals including 13 gold medals,” Aqil Shah told a press conference here on Wednesday.

He noted that despite lack of top class sports facilities in the province which includes the non-availability of a high-standard swimming pool, the players performed well and outclassed rival teams in different categories.

Aqil, however, criticised the provincial sports directorate for renting out the only available swimming pool to a contractor who did not allow the swimmers to train adequately for the mega event.

"This was being done under the nose of Sarhad Sports Board which has become a white elephant in the province," Aqil went on to add.

He further claimed that Pakistan Sports Trust has provided them sufficient stuff but due to lack of cooperation on behalf of provincial sports directorate they were finding it hard to install it in different sports venues.

He also requested the government to inaugurate the Hayatabad Sports Gymnasium which would help the youngsters to take up sports activities in the region.

Aqil also announced few incentives for Adnan Hashim who won 9 golds in swimming and said the talented swimmer has been offered scholarship-based education in FG College, Peshawar and arrangements were also made for his foreign training in swimming.