LAHORE: Physically-challenged students of the Government College University (GCU) participated actively in athletics at the inaugural ceremony of its 116th Annual Sports Day on Wednesday.

About 6,000 students from 32 departments of the university participated in the games. The department of electrical engineering won ‘Best March Past Contingent’ while the departments of physical education and political science stood second and third, respectively.

“Others have won trophies, but the contingent of physically challenged students has won our hearts,” said Vice Chancellor Prof Dr Hassan Amir Shah.

GCU Sports Board Chairman Prof Dr Ikramul Haq taught students how to develop tolerance and a spirit of competition.

He said the GCU had always encouraged students to take part in sports and healthy co­curricular activities.

Sports Director Khadim Ali Khan said developed countries did not give any less importance to sports than to education. Sports education disciplined students, he said, and advised the students never to compromise on standards of sportsmanship.

“Sportsmanship is more important than winning an event,” he added.

Later, the first day of annual sports event was marked by 800m race, which was won by Muhammad Ramzan, a student of Physical Education Department. Muhammad Raees Younas, Abdul Kareem, Subhan Masood and Alam Saddam won gold medals in shot put, long jump, 200m race.

Published in Dawn, March 17th, 2016