Government Sir Syed High School Tando Adam won the Under-18 Boys Inter-School Athletics Championship by securing three gold, two silver and two bronze medals at Tando Adam Cricket Stadium, located at New Ali Garh College.
The championship was organised by the Sports and Youth Affairs Department, Government of Sindh, and featured young athletes from various schools competing in track and field events.
The competitions included the 100-metre race heats and final, 200-metre, 400-metre, 800-metre and 1,500-metre races, shot put, long jump, discus throw, javelin throw and 4×100-metre relay race.
Jamia Millia High School Tando Adam secured second position with three gold and one bronze medal, while Shah Abdul Latif High School Tando Adam finished third with two gold, four silver and two bronze medals.
Member of the Sindh Assembly Sardar Paras Dero attended the event as chief guest. Assistant Commissioner Tando Adam Hunain Tariq Shahani, Lala Umair, Zahid Hussain Memon, Syed Imtiaz Shah, Dildar Ghori, Shahbaz Bajwa, Umair Bhan, Adam Qureshi, Rana Wajid, Ihtisham Farhan and other personalities were also present.
District Sports Officer Shahbaz Khan Abbasi and ground organiser Mukhtiar Ali Umrani welcomed the guests by presenting them with traditional Ajrak and Sindhi caps. Prizes, shields and certificates were subsequently distributed among the winning athletes and teams.
Addressing the gathering, Sardar Paras Dero expressed pleasure at seeing young people participate enthusiastically in sports.
He said Pakistan had immense sporting talent that could be further developed by providing young athletes with adequate opportunities and facilities.
He congratulated the successful athletes and schools and encouraged young people to actively participate in sports and bring recognition to the country.
Talking to the media, he said efforts had been made to secure approval for and develop the cricket ground in Tando Adam, where competitions in cricket and other sports were also being held.
He stressed the importance of encouraging young people to participate in sports and use playgrounds for healthy activities, saying sports could help promote physical fitness and support mental well-being.
He added that his family had consistently endeavoured to facilitate the public and that further efforts would be made to provide improved facilities to the residents of Tando Adam.
Responding to a question about the imposition of governor’s rule in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Dero said that, in his view, the decision had been taken in light of the law and order situation in the country and the province.
He also described President Asif Ali Zardari as a politician with broad political insight and said Pakistan Peoples Party Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari remained attentive to national affairs and public priorities, adding that public interests were important in decision-making.
He said sporting events played a significant role in identifying and developing young talent, promoting healthy activities and providing opportunities for aspiring athletes to excel.