PESHAWAR, July 3: Nearly 3,000 athletes - men and women - will compete in the National Athletics Meet, commencing from July 5, 2002.

Talking to APP, secretary NWFP Amateur Athletic Association, Habib-ur-Rehman Afridi, said that after lapse of three years the National Athletic Championship, will be organised by PAF Sports Directorate.

Besides Army, PAF, Navy, Wapda, Pakistan Police, Pakistan Railways, and the four provinces athletes, will vie for honours, he said.

He said this time Pakistan Ordinance Factory (POF), Wah, will also be taking part as the Pakistan Amateur Athletics Federation (PAAF), has granted only playing right and not the full membership to POF.

About the arrangements he said, although PAF Sports Directorate has completed all required arrangements while the NWFP Athletic Association providing all the technical staff alongwith equipments and accommodation facilities.

The first session would start at 7.00 a.m. to 9.00 a.m while the second session to be held at 6 to 8.30 p.m.—APP