ISLAMABAD: Federal Minister for Inter-Provincial Coordination Ehsan-ur-Rehman Mazari on Thursday said he hoped for a successful holding of the upcoming National Games, adding he had “high expectations” from the athletes taking part.

The National Games are due to begin from May 22 in Quetta with the sporting extravaganza returning to Balochistan for the first time since 2004 and more than 6,000 athletes due to take part across 32 different disciplines.

Speaking at the Torch Relay Ceremony at the Pakistan Sports Complex, the IPC minister reiterated that the federal government was making “all out efforts to promote sports in the country”. “The PSB will also set up training camps to prepare athletes for the Asian Games [later this year].”

Mr Mazari was the chief guest at the ceremony with Pakistan Sports Board director general Shoaib Khoso also present. Others attending the ceremony included Islamabad Olympic Association interim committee chairman Rana Mohammad Sarwar and officials of the Pakistan Olympic Association.

The IPC minister handed the torch to former Olympic sprinter Sadaf Siddiqui to start the relay in Islamabad. The torch will next move to Azad Kashmir before reaching Quetta before the start of the Games.

Published in Dawn, May 12th, 2023