KARACHI, Sept 29: Upcoming male and female athletes will vie for honours in various disciplines at the Quaid-i-Azam Sports Festival which runs across the country for two months starting last week of October.

Earlier, the festival was supposed to commence from Aug 14 on the directives of Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz but was postponed due to the South Asian Games which were being held in Colombo at around the same time. It was again postponed recently due to Ramazan.

The festival is being held to commemorate Pakistan Muslim League centenary celebrations (1906-2006).

“The initiative was taken by top hierarchy including PML president, Chaudhry Shujat Hussain and secretary, Mushahid Hussain, to motivate youth and tap the talent,” chief organiser Sarfaraz Nawaz told Dawn on Friday.

He said boys will compete in eight disciplines and girls in five in addition to two for special children. He said basketball may be added to the list of women disciplines.

Boys: basketball, cricket, football, hockey, volleyball, athletics, kabaddi and wrestling (dangal).

Girls: cricket, hockey, athletics, badminton and table tennis.

The former Test fast bowler said participation of seven U-23 players has been made mandatory in all the teams. He disclosed that the games would be organised by respective national federations which have already submitted their budget proposals.

According to Sarfaraz, an advertising agency would provide expertise and funding to run the show on behalf of the ruling party.

The Quaid-i-Azam Sports Festival secretariat was launched at the PM house on July 20.