QUETTA:Preparations for 34th National Games 2023 to be held from 15-23 May in Quetta are in full swing as 32 sports disciplines have been finalised by Pakistan Olympic Association (POA) for the games.
Furthermore, three exhibition matches, including canoe and kayak, futsal, throwball and women cricket, have also been finalised as exhibition sports during 34th national games, however, POA clarified that competitions of exhibition matches shall not be recognized as the part of 34th national games as well as national championship.
Communication and Works Department, Government of Balochistan is carrying out repair and renovation work of the venues for 34 national games at Ayub Stadium, Quetta, Balochistan University of Information Technology, Engineering and Management Sciences (BUITEMS), Sardar Bahadur Khan Women University, Quetta, Tameer-e-Nau College, Quetta and Qayyum Papa football ground, Quetta.
32 sports disciplines, including archery (men and women), athletics (men and women), badminton men and women), baseball (men), basketball (men and women), bodybuilding (men), boxing (men and women), cycling (men and women), football (men and women), golf (men and women), gymnastics (men), handball (men and women), hockey (men and women), judo (men and women), kabaddi (men), karate (men and women), rugby (men and women), rowing (men and women), sailing (men and women), shooting (men and women), squash (men and women), softball (women), swimming (men and women), table tennis (men and women), taekwondo (men and women), tennis (men and women), tug of war (male), volleyball (men and women), weightlifting (men and women), wrestling (male), wushu (men and women) and fencing (men and women, medals shall not be counted for Quaid-e-Azam trophy), have been included in 34th national games.
Authorities of the Sports and Youth Affairs Department, Government of Balochistan were of the opinion that all sports associations have been taken on board for conducting 34th national games.
On the other hand, representatives of different sports associations, including archery and cycling, were of the opinion that trials of parallel bodies of archery and cycling association had been conducted, sidelining the genuine associations. Talking to PPI, Syed Bilal Ahmed, Associate Secretary, Balochistan Archery Association said that Balochistan Archery Association was the affiliated body of Pakistan Archery Federation, headed by Chaudry Anwar Zeb Khan, President and Wisal Muhammad Khan, General Secretary had not been given representation in 34th national games despite the fact that Pakistan Archery Federation was registered federation with Pakistan Sports Board while Balochistan Spirts Board, Quetta had granted registration to the affiliated body of Pakistan Archery Federation, that was, Balochistan Archery Association. Jan e Alam, General Secretary, Balochistan Cycling Association said that genuine body of cycling discipline in Balochistan province had been ignored by giving representation to a bogus body of cycling.