KARACHI: The Special Olympics National Games commenced at KPT Sports Complex here on Saturday.

The spectacular and impressive opening ceremony was the hallmark of the Games on the opening day.  

Saeed Ahmed, the chairman of Special Olympics Pakistan, was the chief guest at the opening ceremony who declared the Games open after the march past of 250 plus special athletes who arrived to participate from Islamabad , Lahore, KP , Quetta and Karachi.

Results: Swimming (aquatics): Men’s:

100-metre freestyle: 1. Mazhar (Islamabad), 2. Tahir Siddiqui (Islamabad).

Breast stroke: 1. Mazhar Mahmood (Islamabad ), 2. Tahir Siddiqui (Islamabad ), 3. Asim (Sindh).

Women’s:

25-metre backstroke: 1. Aqsa (Punjab), 2. Jasmin (Sindh), 3. Farham Farooq (Sindh), 4. (Punjab).

25-metre freestyle: 1. Aqsa (Punjab), 2. Farha Farooq (Sindh).

Basketball:

Sindh beat Punjab 18-8; Islamabad  beat  Sindh 24-2; Islamabad  beat Punjab 28-6.

Published in Dawn, October 19th, 2014