PESHAWAR: A colourful transgender sports gala was held at the Peshawar Sports Complex here on Saturday under the auspices of the Directorate General of Sports Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

Over 100 members of the transgender community and persons of short stature participated in the festival.

The sports festival featured competitions in cricket, futsal, musical chairs, sack race, tug-of-war and archery. Overall, Farzana team secured first position, while Arzu team finished second.

The chief guest on the occasion was Mohammad Asif Khan, secretary sports and youth affairs.

Speaking to the media, Asif Khan said the purpose of organising sports activities for the transgender community was to reinforce that they were an important part of society and that participation in such activities was their fundamental right.

In the competitions, Arzu team won the futsal final, while Farzana team finished runners-up. In the sack race, Ajwa secured first position, Zoni second and Nayab Gul third. Muskan won the food competition.

In the cone race, Shai Ko Ko took first place, Muskan second and Nauman third. Shagufta Gul won the musical chairs competition. In archery, Maya claimed first position, followed by Kashi in second place. Zardad Bulbul won the tug-of-war event.

In the 50-metre transgender race, Mani won the gold medal, Malaika secured silver and Ajwa took bronze. In the race for persons of short stature, Luqman won gold, Usman silver and Noor bronze.

Meanwhile, Mohmand district clinched volleyball trophy in Merged Districts Under-16 Games 2026 after defeating Khyber district 3-1 in a thrilling final.

Director general sports Tashfeen Haider distributed prizes among the players at the closing ceremony. The games, organised by the directorate of sports merged districts in Peshawar, have entered their final stage.

In cricket matches played at Hayatabad Cricket Ground, Bajaur defeated SD (Settled District) Peshawar by 132 runs. Orakzai registered a convincing 10-wicket victory over SD Lakki in a thrilling encounter, while SD Bannu beat Kurram by 10 wickets. Khyber district also secured a 10-wicket win over SD Dera Ismail Khan.

In basketball matches held at Peshawar Sports Complex, Kurram defeated Bajaur 62-39. SD Kohat overcame Upper South Waziristan 34-17. North Waziristan beat SD Peshawar 24-10, while SD Tank defeated SD Bannu 21-4.

Published in Dawn, February 15th, 2026