PESHAWAR: The 28th edition of National Games of Special Persons kicked off at Peshawar Sports Complex on Friday wherein about 750 players including females belonging to different parts of the country are taking part in 47 different games.

During the opening ceremony, adviser to the Chief Minister on Information and Higher Education Kamran Khan Bangash was the chief guest while former World Champion Jansher Khan also participated. According to the organisers, the games will continue for three days. They include 47 different male and female games, including cricket, badminton, table tennis, tug of war, athletics, wheelchair race, discus throw, wheelchair cricket, discus throw wheelchair, javelin throw, shot put, power lifting, bodybuilding, archery, wood ball, wheelchair basketball and various other events.

Director General Sports Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Asfandyar Khan Khattak, Director Sports Female Rashida Ghaznavi, Director Operations Syed Saqlain Shah, founder of the Special Games Tariq Mahmood, Secretary General AIPs Asia Amjad Aziz Malik, Deputy Directors Sports Aziz Ullah Jan, Tariq Khan, AD Account Amjad Khan, Director Development Niamatullah Khan Marwat, AD Sports Zakirullah Khan and other important personalities were present.

Talking to the media, Director General Sports Asfandyar Khan Khattak said that these games would continue till Sept 28 at Qayyum Stadium Peshawar. Director Operations Syed Saqlain Shah said that these competitions were held in Abbottabad last year and are being played in Peshawar this year for the first time.

Kamran Bangash said that this event would encourage the differently-abled people in the province. He said that the special people were also citizens of this society and the government would patronise and guide them at every turn. Mr Bangash welcomed the players and appreciated the directorate of sports for their efforts.

Published in Dawn, September 26th, 2020