PESHAWAR, July 6: The 16th edition of the National Paralympics Games got under way at City Sports Centre Abbottabad, with 450 special players from 18 cities taking part.

NWFP Minister for Commerce and Industries Ahmad Hussain Shah was the chief guest on this occasion and formally inaugurated the Games.

All 18 contingents from 18 different cities are taking part in the Games, carrying two different categories of mentally-ill, physically challenged special players including females. Almost 450 players are taking part in athletics, cricket, badminton, table tennis, bodybuilding, tug-of-war, powerlifting and squash.

Basketball was included for the first time in which both male and female teams are taking part. Players from rehabilitation centres for special children across the country from Karachi, Sukkar, Quetta, Multan, Bahawalpur, Faisalabad, Islamabad, Gujranwala, Peshawar, Mardan, Charsadda, Dera Ismail Khan, Takhat Bhai, Muridke, Bannu, Rawalpindi, Mansehra, Azad Jammu and Kashmir and Abbottabad vie for the top honors.

The Games is part of the annual calendar of the NWFP Sports Board. Besides march past, a race competition was also held.

Wheel chair, basketball and race of the physically handicapped were also held on the opening day.—APP