PESHAWAR, Sept 22: NWFP government has decided to establish a sports academy at Peshawar and build a first-ever Kabaddi stadium at district Bannu at a cost of Rs 5 million and Rs 29.718 million respectively. Under a pilot project a well organized sports academy would be established in Peshawar with a view to promote local talented sportsmen through a scientific international standard.

The plan has been approved at a cost of Rs 5 million.

At preliminary stage only football ground and squash court would be prepared at the sports academy.

It is expected that the first phase of this important project would be a step towards further achievement in the field of sports, sources said.

Besides, the provincial government has already been in the process to establish an international level sports academy at Kabal Golf Course site in district Swat, for which an ex-tennis champion of Pakistan Zulfiqar Rahim has submitted proposal.

Reportedly, groundwork on this proposal has been completed but awaiting a formal presentation to Chief Minister Akram Khan Durrani, they said and added the academy would also house an international hotel, educational institution and training centre.

Similarly, well-informed sources said that the first ever Kabaddi stadium in the country would be built at a cost of Rs.29.718 million.

It would measure about 46 Kanal of land.

The stadium would be constructed at Bara Mir Abbas at Bannu district, which is famous for traditional games of Kabaddi reportedly witnessed by over 45,000 to -50,000 spectators including visitors and players from neighbouring districts of Punjab province.

The NWFP Chief Minister Akram Khan Durrani on the demand of local players has taken keen interest to establish a Kabaddi stadium at Bannu district. It will not only promote this traditional game but also provide an entertainment facility to locals.

The stadium will be exclusively for Kabaddi.