Sports Board Punjab (SBP) and Athletics Federation of Pakistan (AFP) are going to host 50th National Athletics Championships for Men & Women at Punjab Stadium from Nov 25 to 27, 2022; this was announced by Director General Sports Punjab Muhammad Tariq Qureshi and AFP President Maj-Gen (retd) Akram Sahi at a press conference at National Hockey Stadium on Thursday. Director Admin Syed Umair Hassan, Secretary M Zafar, Senior athletics coach Salman Butt and other top officials were also present on this occasion. Addressing the press conference, Director General Sports Punjab Muhammad Tariq Qureshi said that all the athletics competitions of the championship will be held on state-of-the-art tartan track at Punjab Stadium. “Sports Board Punjab will provide best accommodation facilities to all participating athletes. We are quite upbeat that several fresh talented athletes will emerge from the 50th National Athletics Championship,” he added. Director General Sports Punjab Muhammad Tariq Qureshi informed that 14 teams including Punjab, Sindh, KPK, Balochistan, Islamabad, AJK, Gilgit Baltistan, Army, Navy, Air Force, Police, Wapda, Railways and HEC will participate in the 3-day championship. “The male athletes will take part in 23 events while the women will participate in 21 events during the 50th National Athletics Championships”. Director General Sports Punjab Muhammad Tariq Qureshi further said that Sports Board Punjab is conducting talent hunt schemes in all tehsils to build a pool of elite athletes. “For this purpose, Sports Board Punjab has established several academies including Athletics Academy, table tennis, tennis, swimming and cricket academies to bring out new talent in all sports disciplines”. Director General Sports Punjab Muhammad Tariq Qureshi said that top medal-winning 30 athletes of 73rd Punjab Games will be trained in Athletics Academy. “We are hopeful that Sports Board Punjab’s Athletics Academy will help a lot in producing several athletes like Olympian Arshad Nadeem”. AFP President Maj-Gen (retd) Akram Sahi on this occasion said that the final of the championship will be held on November 27. “We are grateful of Sports Board Punjab for extending valuable support for holding 50th National Athletics Championship”.He said that DG Sports Punjab Tariq Qureshi is doing excellent job for the development of sports across the province. “I pray that Muhammad Tariq Qureshi will serve as DG Sports Punjab for a long time so that the sports culture will flourish in the province in true sense,” he added. AFP President Maj-Gen (retd) Akram Sahi said it is the best opportunity for athletes to express their talent at a bigger level. “The establishment of Sports Board Punjab’s Athletics Academy is a great development for the promotion of athletics among the young generation,” he elaborated.
