This last week, the Sports Board Punjab (SBP) has set yet another deadline of one month for the inauguration of already badly delayed two projects -- an international standard swimming pool and a tennis stadium -- in the Nishtar Park Sports Complex.

Such deadlines had been given on several occasions in the past, but every time the SBP failed to fulfill its commitment for one reason or another. The fresh deadline comes from the newly-appointed SBP director-general Zulfiqar Ghumman.

He was appointed by the Punjab government as the post remained vacant for several months after Usman Anwar was made an OSD.

Although both projects were important, the need for the swimming pool of international standard has been felt for years for the youth of Lahore.

Hopefully, the two projects started in 2008 will finally see the light. Big sports gala of swimming and tennis should also be held on the occasion of inaugurating these projects.

The cost of both projects has also increased manifold because of inordinate delay and the provincial government should conduct an inquiry in this regard.

Teams of armies of Pakistan and China stole the show in the first edition of the Pakistan Army PACES Championship, winning most of the events.

Overall, 326 athletes of 14 countries’ armies are taking part in the championship. A cricket team of the Australian Army is also a part of these games. It played three matches and could win only against Lahore Gymkhana. It faced defeats against the Lahore Army and the PCB Youth XI with big margins.

The competition of push-ups, push-in, mini-marathon was also held. The Pakistan Army has introduced these events in 2010. It claims the events have helped improve enormously the skills of its soldiers.

The Dar Hockey Academy took an initiative of holding an inter-school tournament last week, but it received poor response from both private and government schools.

Though only six schools participated in the event, the participation of Aitchison College in the tournament was a welcome sign. There are reports that Aitchison College is reviving its sports activities on a large scale.

Hopefully, the schools in private and government sectors will also get inspiration to revive sports in their respective institutions.

Mentor of the Dar Hockey Academy and Olympian Tauqeer Dar is also happy over the participation of Aitchison College and expressed the hope that next year his academy would try to hold the event at the national level.

Tauqeer said he spotted some talented players from Government High School, Shahdara, and would try to persuade them to join the Dar Academy.

Published in Dawn, October 23rd, 2016