Balochistan will host the much-awaited 34th National Games from May 5 to 23, after nearly 19 years, according to a Pakistan Olympic Association (POA) official on Friday.
POA senior vice-president Syed Aqil Shah told APP in Peshawar that around 6,000 male and female athletes and 1,000 officials would compete in 34 disciplines, including four exhibition sports (cricket, futsal, throw ball, and canoeing and kayak), at the national gala, which would be held in two phases for the first time.
Aqil also went to Quetta to check how the Games were being prepared for.
While applauding the Balochistan government for allocating Rs100 million to prepare the venues and Rs400 million to organise the Games, a POA official stated that Quetta hosting the Games after 19 years will be historic.
“Due to Covid, the Games could not be held in 2019, and will now be held from May 5,” Aqil said.
According to Aqil, who is also the president of the KP Olympic Association, the competitors will participate in martial arts, boxing, athletics, football, hockey, body-building, and other sports at twelve different venues throughout Quetta, including the Ayub Sports Complex, Quetta Cantt, and BUTMANS University.
“Swimming competitions will be held in Lahore, rifle shooting in Jhelum, rowing and canoeing in Rawal Lake, Islamabad.”
Exhibition sports activities in Quetta will not be included in the National Games.
“Some events, such as swimming, rowing, rifle shooting, and canoeing, will be held outside of Quetta,” said the official.
Schedule of different sports at the 34th National Games (to be held in Quetta):
- Baseball: BUITEMS Cricket Ground, May 7-13; 2. Basketball (5×5): PSB Hall, Ayub Sports Complex, May 7-14; 3. Football: Ayub Football Stadium and Qayyum Papa Football Stadium, May 5-14; 4.
- Handball: Ayub Sports Complex, May 5-14; 5. Hockey: Nawab Ghous Bakhsh Hockey Stadium, May 4-14; 6. Kabaddi Women Hall, Ayub Sports Complex, May 7-14; 7. Rugby 7’s: BUITEMS, May 8-14; 8. Softball: BUITEMS Football Ground, May 7-14; 9. Tug of war: Ayub Football Stadium, May 10-14; 10. Boxing: PSB Hall, Ayub Sports Complex, May 5-15; 11. Fencing: BUITEMS, Quetta May 8-14; 12. Archery: BUITEMS / Tameer-i-Nau College, May 15-23; 13. Athletics: Ayub Football Stadium, May 15-23; 14. Badminton: Saifullah Magsi Badminton Court, Ayub Sports Complex, May 14-23; 15. Bodybuilding: Noori Naseer Khan Complex Hall, May 14-18; 16. Cycling: Quetta-Pishin Road, May 15-23; 17. Golf: Quetta Golf Club, May 15-22; 18. Gymnastics: BUITEMS, May 16-21; 19. Judo: BUITEMS, May 14-20; 20. Karate: SBK Hall, May 14-21; 21. Squash: Ayub Sports Complex, May 14-23; 22. Table Tennis: Table Tennis Hall, Ayub Sports Complex, May 16-23; 23. Taekwondo: BUITEMS, Quetta, May 14-23; 24. Tennis: Ayub Stadium Complex, Polo Ground, and Brown Gymkhana, May 15-23; 25. Volleyball: PSB Hall, Ayub Stadium Complex, May 14-21; 26. Weightlifting: Noori Naseer Khan Complex Hall, May 17-23; 27. Wrestling (boys): Scout Hall, May 17-22; 28. Wushu: Ibrar Hall Ayub Sports Complex, May 15-22 (competition of individual sport in Islamabad); 29. Rowing: Islamabad, May 7-14 (competition of individual sport in Ormara, Gwadar); 30. Sailing: Ormara, Gwadar, schedule/events not finalised (by the sailing federation); 31. Shooting: Jhelum, May 11-20; 32. Swimming: Lahore, May 17-22
Exhibition sports:
1 Canoe and Kayak: Quetta, May 16; 2 Futsal: Ground, Ayub Sports Complex, May 16; 3 Throwball: Ayub Sports Complex, May 18; 4 Women’s cricket: Nawab Akbar Bugti & Bolan Cricket Stadium, May 18.
