PESHAWAR, April 19: The second edition of the National Paralympics Games 2008, commence here at the Qayyum Sports Complex on Sunday.

The games would formally be inaugurated on April 21 by NWFP’s Minister for Sports Syed Aqil Shah.

The three-day games will have some 250 players, including special players, and officials from across the country competing in athletics, badminton, table tennis and weightlifting.

Medals, trophies, certificates and prizes will be given out by NWFP’s Chief Minister Amir Haider Khan Hoti at the closing ceremony on April 23.

The main events would be participated by players above 17 years of age while there will also be many Under-17 players competing in the games.

The National Paralympics Committee of Pakistan has assured a Rs 0.4 million grant for the games with the provincial government taking care of the other expenditures.

The objective of the games is to prepare a Pakistan contingent for the 2009 Pacific Games and the 2010 Asian Paralym-pics Games to be held in Beijing.—APP