KHYBER: The Peace Sports Gala ended in the violence-hit upper Bara area here with much fanfare the other day.

Organised by the Sipah Khidmat-i-Khalq Society, the event was meant to provide sporting facilities to the returned families and encouraging the youngsters to exhibit their hidden physical talents.

Said Ghani, an organiser of the gala, told Dawn that the two-week festival witnessed some close contests of cricket, athletics, and tug-of-war between two teams of local elders.

He said though there was no proper playground in the entire upper Bara, matches and athletics competitions were arranged in agricultural fields.

The final cricket match was won by Kamarkhel Kings by defeating Tirah Sipah, much to the excitement of spectators who had gathered in Sandana in large numbers to cheer up their teams.

In athletics, the Sipah runners beat their rivals from other localities, with some competing barefooted, according to Qazi Farman, another organiser.

He said the most interesting and amusing event of the final day was tug-of-war between elders of Sipah and Kamarkhel, with the rope breaking twice during the contest.

Mr Farman said the main objective of the gala was to ease unrest among the local youth by providing them with an opportunity to participate in healthy sporting activity.

He said for the first time after the return of most displaced families to upper Bara, such an activity was arranged by the Sipah Khidmat-i-Khalq Society without any official assistance.

A cash award of Rs15,000 was given away to the winner of the final cricket match, which was witnessed by youth, tribal elders and civil society activists.

Young and enthusiastic players, who participated in the gala, demanded construction of sports grounds in the region and the regular holding of sports events to youth in healthy and productive activities.

Published in Dawn, February 28th, 2025