LAHORE, Nov 8: Thin attendance was witnessed at the sporting events on the first day of the Punjab International Sports Festival on Thursday.

The main reason for low public turnout was the choice of venues for different games. Most venues are at quite a distance from the central point of the festival – the National Hockey Stadium.

The competitions of touch-ball and fist-ball, two games unknown to even many sport enthusiasts, started at a venue on Raiwind Road. Similarly, rugby event in which some clubs from foreign countries are participating started at Defence Stadium. The baseball competition took off at one of Model Town grounds actually meant for women’s cricket.

The Punjab Sports Board did not make any arrangement to transport reporters to watch the competitions. A press release said Pakistan’s baseball team crushed Afghanistan 15-0, opening the festival on a winning note.

Ten matches were held at the DHA Rugby Ground. Rugby is the only international event of the festival in which eight countries, mostly clubs, are taking part. Cambodia Stars staged the biggest upset of the day beating strong home team Pakistan Gold 19-17 by collecting seven points in the last minute.

In other matches, New Zealand College Riders beat Pak White 47-0, Hollywood Ireland beat Pakistan Universities 48-0, Afghan Club Kabul United beat Hong Kong Chinese University 26-0, Delhi Hurricanes India beat Pakistan Whites 22-5, Uzbek Club beat Pakistan Universities 26-0, Kabul United drew with Pakistan Golf 14-14, NZ College beat Delhi 15-5 and Irish Club beat Uzbek Club 22-0.

In the only match of kabaddi, Afghanistan beat Nepal 40-30.

In the Dosti Cup wrestling between Indian and Pakistani Punjabs’ teams, the local team defeated the visitors 4-2. In the first bout Sajjad Iqbal of Pakistan beat Prince in 55kg category, Pakistan’s Basharat Ali beat India’s Ranjeet Singh in 60kg, Haider Ali gave Pakistan its third success, beating India’s Visho Deep in 74kg, Omair Butt beat Satveer Singh in 84kg, Gorpaul beat Ghulam Hussain in 96kg and Mundeeb beat Saeed Ahmed in 120kg.

In Pak-India Dosti Hockey Cup match, the two Punjabs ended the first match at 2-2 draw at Johar Town ground. The home side led the first half 1-0. Imran Malik scored both goals for the home team. Sitandir Singh and Harpareet Singh shared the scoring honours for the visitors.

In Pak India Deaf T-20 match, Pakistan earned 19-run win at the Iqbal Park Sports Complex. The home side batted first and scored 148 for the loss of six wickets in the allotted 15 overs. Kashif was declared man of the match with top score (58). In reply, the Indian side could muster 129 for the loss of seven wickets; Mandeed emerged as the best scorer with 26.

On the sidelines of the international sports festival, the national games also began and competitions were held in athletics (men) and table tennis (women).