Though the Sports Board of Punjab (SBP) has inaugurated the ‘state-of-the-art tennis complex’ in Nishtar Sports Complex a couple of months ago, it emerges now that it cannot host any tournament.

The complex which took nine years to be completed has only one court, which makes it unfit to host a full tournament. Tennis complexes, the world over, have a good number of courts of different kinds to facilitate several entries of players, besides reserving some courts for practice purpose during the event.

The entire money spent on the complex is of no use. The last week, inter-school and inter-college tennis tournament was organised by the Punjab Lawn Tennis Association (PLTA). The matches were played at the PLTA’s own courts in Bagh-i-Jinnah whereas the ‘state-of-the-art’ complex was just used for the finals. The initial plan had four courts but later on some part of the land of the tennis complex was allocated to the Punjab Tourism Department for a bus-stand. The SBP should build more courts, otherwise, the complex will nothing be but a white elephant.

In fact, non-technocrat SBP officials have committed the mistake, which must be investigated.

Work on the installation of the floodlights at the Lahore City Cricket Association (LCCA) ground has started. Though the Punjab government released Rs60 million two years ago, the SBP delayed the projects. During the period, the SBP awarded the contract to some companies only to withdraw them later for the reasons best known to them. Still, no one can give guarantee if the floodlights will be held this year as any tact of red tape or any technical fault will delay it.

According to the plan, four floodlights pools will be erected around the LCCA ground. To get space for the pools, some training nets of the local cricket club, functioning in the LCCA may lose their space. There are around 10 such clubs, which hold nets in and around the LCCA ground. The LCCA has the reservations against the existing of such a good number of nets, complaining that the entire ground of the LCCA is being destroyed due to the nets. The removal of these clubs may trigger tensions as the city lacks cricket grounds.

The installation of floodlights will make the LCCA the first venue for day-and-night cricket in the city. Though the city of Karachi has a good number of such grounds, where floodlights facility is available, Lahore badly needs this facility.

After a long time, Lahore hosted the National Boxing Championship the last week. Coincidentally, the Pakistan Boxing Federation also organised the first National Women’s Boxing Championship side by side. Overall, 200 men and women boxers from all over the country were in Lahore for the event. Punjab women won the trophy and in men, the reigning champion Army retained its title, defeating traditional rival Wapda. Overall, 15 affiliated units of the Pakistan Boxing Federation took place, proving the game is quite popular in the country. Boxers from four provinces, FATA, Gilgat-Baltistan, Azad Jammu and Kashmir and Islamabad contested along with professional boxers from Army, Wapda, Police, Railways, Karachi Electric, Navy and Pakistan Air Force.

It was a four-day activity and every day, the Wapda Sports Complex, the host of the event, attracted a good number of youngsters to watch the fights.

Agrand opening ceremony of the Special Olympics National Games was held on this weekend in Lahore. Overall, 250 children with special needs from the four provinces, Islamabad and Gilgat-Baltistan marched-past in the opening ceremony.

The performance of tableau performed by the children was a treat to watch. The participants were upbeat about their participation in the gala and said they were happy to exhibit their skills despite their physical challenges as they had equal skill and talent to do wonders to earn good name for the country internationally. Vice-Chairman of the Special Olympics Anisur Rehman said his organization wanted to show the talent of special children the world over.

In the four-day gala, the competition in different sports, including football, power lift and athletics will be held.

Published in Dawn, January 28th, 2018