PESHAWAR: Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Under-21 Games will commence on January 20 in Peshawar, with more than 5,000 male and female athletes and officials expected to participate in what officials described as the province’s largest-ever sports event.

This was stated by the director general sports Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Tashfeen Haider, while speaking to the media at the Peshawar Sports Complex on Thursday. Director sports operations Jamshed Baloch, project director Arbab Faiz, chief coach Shafqatullah and administrator Yousaf Afridi were also present.

Mr Haider said competitions would be held in 35 men’s and 18 women’s sports disciplines. The opening ceremony will take place at the historic Imran Khan Cricket Stadium, where Chief Minister Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Muhammad Sohail Afridi will formally inaugurate the games.

He said the trials for all sports had been completed successfully at the regional level on the special directives of the adviser to sports, Taj Muhammad Tarand, and under the supervision of secretary sports Muhammad Asif.

According to the DG Sports, the winning team in team events will receive a cash prize of Rs100,000, while the runners-up will be awarded Rs50,000. He added that special competitions for persons with disabilities including wheelchair cricket and boccia would also be organised.

Mr Haider said all logistical arrangements for the event had been finalised and athletes would be provided daily allowances and sports kits in a timely manner. Men’s events include badminton, table tennis, squash, athletics, volleyball, karate, football, gymnastics, throw ball, basketball, boxing, taekwondo, hockey, judo, handball, wushu, archery, jujitsu, tennis, weightlifting, wrestling, snooker, lacrosse, teqball, mas wrestling, futsal, kickboxing, bodybuilding, full-contact karate, kabaddi, Muay Thai, baseball, tug of war, rugby and zorkhana.

Women’s competitions include badminton, table tennis, squash, athletics, volleyball, karate, basketball, taekwondo, judo, hockey, netball, cricket, archery, handball, jujitsu, throw ball, futsal and softball.

Published in Dawn, December 19th, 2025