First Asian Fistball Championship will start in Lahore from Thursday: Rana Mashud

Lahore: First Asian Fistball Championship will start in Lahore from Thursday, April 10 at Punjab Stadium Lahore. The competitions will continue for two days. In the first phase of Punjab International Sports Festival, teams from Pakistan, Australia, India and Nepal are participating. The opening match will be played between Pakistan and Australia.

This was disclosed by Punjab Minister for Sports, Rana Mashud Ahmad Khan on the occasion of introducing foreign teams to the media at the office of Punjab Sports Board. He said that Punjab Youth Festival has been popularized at the international level and its credit goes to Punjab Chief Minister Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif and Hamza Shahbaz Sharif.

He said that all the allegations leveled against Punjab Youth Festival have proved baseless after the verification by official letters of Guinness World Records. On the occasion, participating teams, officials and players while expressing their joys upon arrival in Pakistan, said that our feelings have changed and Pakistan is a safe country for sports’ activities.

Secretary Indian Fistball Federation, Parag Vankhade while speaking on the occasion alongwith officials of Australia, Nepal, Germany, America, said that they are felling good to visit Pakistan. He said that Pakistan is presented as a dangerous country in India but after arriving here, this impression has been negated. He said that Pakistanis are very loving and famous for hospitality.

Member British Empire, Taha Qureshi said that we have to play our collective role to improve the image of Pakistan.

He said that setting world records is not an easy thing and instead of criticizing the Punjab government we should encourage it for holding such healthy activities.

Manager Lancaster University cricket team Adam Child said that we are here for the last three days and the players enjoyed cricket and the environment. He said that cricket is a popular sport in Pakistan and termed playing at Gaddafi Stadium in front of thousands of spectators as the best moment of his life.

President Australian Fistball Federation, Ralph Peterson said that a warm welcome was accorded to them during their stay at Lahore. We travelled by rickshaw also and did not feel any security issue. He said that tough competition is expected during the championship because Pakistani players are very talented and sturdy.

Representative of German Fistball Federation, Burn Hikki said that Fistball is a fast spreading sport in the world and expressed the hope that Pakistani team will perform very well in the world cup at Argentine next year.

Manager Nepal Fistball team, Sanjive Sippi said that our players have been provided an opportunity to learn through this mega event.

The officials from America Mix Marshal Arts and Zain ul Abidin while appreciating the efforts of Punjab government regarding holding of Youth Festival said that this will help attract the youth towards sports.