ISLAMABAD: Punjab’s athletes reigned supreme after the second day of action in the Quaid-e-Azam Inter-Provincial Games concluded here at the Pakistan Sports Complex on Sunday.

Punjab are leading the medal tally with 60 medals (26 gold, 28 silver and six bronze) followed by Islamabad with 24 medals — five gold, three silver and 16 bronze.

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa are in the third place on the the medal table as they clinched seven medals, including one gold and silver apiece with five bronze medals.

Sindh are also very close by with six medals, one gold, one silver and four bronze medals.

Azad Jammu Kashmir also put their name on the table as they won one gold while Balochistan athletes have till now secured one silver and three bronze.

Punjab’s major success came in the swimming events. In the girls competitions Rania Khan, Zehra Kazi, Nuriyah Rahim, Ayesha Waqas, Mehar Hayat and Amna Rehman Khawar clinched golds in different categories.

Rania won the 200 metre freestyle race, finishing in 2 minutes and 47 seconds while Zehra claimed the 100 metre breaststroke honours as she came home in one minute and 43 seconds. Zehra later bagged another gold in the 50m freestyle event.

Ayesha was the winner in the 200 metre breaststroke event, covering the distance in two minutes and 59 seconds while Mehar emerged victorious in the 200 meter final.

Punjab’s men’s team maintained their dominance in the pools as Aryan Rehman, Azan Maqbool, Chaudhry Hassan Ali, Agha and Abdul Wasay Naseer won gold medals in various events of swimming.

In the team swimming events, Islamabad proved to be the best in both men’s and women’s event.

Mahayha, Maham, Fayyadi and Eman secured gold in 4x100m medley relay women event while the quartet of Abdullah, Hassan, Rashid and Zaki won the gold in men’s event.

Over 200 athletes are competing in 15 disciplines, with the Games concluding on Dec 19.

Published in Dawn, December 16th, 2024