Punjab Minister for Sports Faisal Ayub Khokhar inaugurated 19 free Chief Minister Sports Academies in Lahore, marking the first programme of its kind in the province’s history. The initiative aims to provide structured training under experienced coaches in 19 sports disciplines, including cricket, football, hockey, basketball, badminton, tennis, boxing, wrestling, swimming, table tennis, karate, taekwondo, archery, squash, wushu, ju-jitsu, athletics, laser run, and kabaddi.
Inaugural Ceremony Draws Large Attendance
Among the dignitaries present were Sports Board Punjab (SBP) Vice-Chairman Salman Malik, Secretary Youth Affairs and Sports Punjab Fazal ur Rehman, and Director General Sports Punjab Muhammad Tariq Qureshi. Director Sports Chand Perveen and Director Admin Abid Shaukat also attended. More than 2,000 male and female athletes and their parents participated in the opening ceremony.
Free Year-Round Training for Youth
Faisal Khokhar stated that the academies will provide free training in 19 different sports throughout the year, offering young athletes access to modern coaching methods and high-quality sports facilities. He announced that over 2,500 boys and girls between the ages of 6 and 19 have already been registered for the program. The academies are being established under the vision of CM Punjab to identify and develop future sports champions.
Phased Expansion Across Punjab
The project will initially be implemented in Lahore during the first phase, with plans to expand to district and divisional levels across Punjab in subsequent phases. This phased approach aims to ensure systematic growth and effective management of the academies.
China Model Adopted for Training
DG Sports Punjab Tariq Qureshi explained that the academies are following the China model, which prioritizes bringing youth into sports grounds first, then grooming them for international sports events. This strategy focuses on building a strong foundation and then refining skills for global competitions.
