ISLAMABAD: Around 2,000 male and female athletes will be seen in action during the Quaid-e-Azam Inter-Provincial Games starting here at the Pakistan Sports Complex on Friday. The weeklong Games, being organised by the Pakistan Sports Board (PSB), will feature a total of 15 disciplines, including athletics, badminton, boxing, football, hockey, judo, kabaddi, karate, squash, swimming, table tennis, taekwondo, volleyball, weightlifting and wrestling.

Sharing the details of the Games with media in Islamabad on Wednesday, PSB director general Yasir Pirzada said that all the arrangements had been finalised to hold the Games in a befitting manner.

Later speaking to Dawn, Yasir said that the Games will bring together athletes from across the country, representing Punjab, Sindh, Balochistan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Gilgit-Baltistan, Azad Jammu & Kashmir and Islamabad.

Meanwhile, the PSB in a statement said that it had allocated cash prizes worth Rs20 million for the Quaid-e-Azam Games. Individual gold medallists will receive Rs20,000 while silver and bronze medallists will be awarded Rs15,000 and Rs10,000, respectively.

For team events, each participant will earn Rs15,000 for gold, Rs10,000 for silver and Rs7,500 for bronze. Additional trophies, medals and certificates worth Rs4 million will further recognise the athletes’ achievements.

According to the PSB, the Games will uphold strict rules to ensure fairness and discipline. Athletes under 22 years of age are eligible to participate, provided they meet regional representation criteria. Any violations, including misconduct or doping, will result in penalties and disqualification.

The Games conclude on Dec 19.

Published in Dawn, December 12th, 2024