LAHORE: The Queen’s Baton of the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games will arrive in Karachi on Dec 27, the Pakistan Olympic Association (POA) said on Tuesday.
According to a POA press release, Pakistan’s squash legend Jahangir Khan and renowned wrestler Inam Butt will carry the baton.
Pakistan will be the 23rd destination out of the 72 Commonwealth nations of the relay.
The Baton started its journey at Buckingham Palace on Oct 7, 2021 when Her Majesty The Queen placed Her Message to the Commonwealth into the Baton and passed it to four-time Paralympic gold medallist and Team England athlete Kadeena Cox, who had the honour of being the first of thousands of Baton Bearers to carry the baton.
In Karachi, the Queen’s Baton will visit British Deputy High Commission office, Madressatul Islam University, Mazar-e-Quaid-e-Azam, Karachi Grammar School and Moulana Muhammad Ali Johar Park (Kakri Ground), Karachi and will experience the celebrations by the local communities including students, athletes and notables from all sections of the society.
“The Queen’s Baton will be carried by squash legend Jahangir Khan and Mohammad Inam, who is World Beach wrestling champion and Commonwealth Games gold medallist,” the release said.
Fatima Lakhani was appointed as chairperson of the organising committee of the QBR event in Pakistan POA president retired Lt Gen Syed Arif Hasan, President CGA Pakistan and Muhammad Khalid Mahmood, Secretary General, CGA Pakistan, will officially welcome the Baton.
“I am delighted that Pakistan is a part of this extraordinary journey. It’s a way to highlight and promote the beauty of Pakistan to people across the Commonwealth,” Fatima said.
The 16th official Queen’s Baton Relay is an epic journey covering the entirety of the Commonwealth as it will travel to all 72 nations and territories, covering a distance of 140,000 kilometres. For 269 days, the Baton will travel to Europe, Africa, Asia, Oceania, the Caribbean and the Americas, before it embarks on the final stretch of its journey across England for 25 days.
The Relay will complete its journey at the opening ceremony of the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games on July 28, 2022.
Published in Dawn, December 22nd, 2021