In a significant move to revitalize sports at the grassroots level, Punjab's Provincial Minister for Sports and Youth Affairs, Malik Faisal Ayub Khokhar, has unveiled a comprehensive strategy during a high-level meeting at the National Hockey Stadium.
Major Decisions for Youth Development
Chairing a crucial meeting of the Punjab Sports Department, Minister Khokhar outlined a clear and effective plan to promote sports and provide maximum opportunities for the youth. The meeting was attended by key officials including Secretary Sports Muzaffar Khan Sial, DG Sports Punjab Khizar Afzaal Ch, Additional Secretary Sports Mian Usman Ali, Director Sports Rana Nadeem Anjum, Director Admin Abid Shaukat, and Deputy Director Mirza Nadeem.
U-16 Talent Hunt: A Game Changer
The centerpiece of the new strategy is the ambitious U-16 Talent Hunt Program. Minister Faisal Ayub Khokhar announced that this program will be conducted at the tehsil level, casting a wide net across the province.
More than 26,000 young athletes from 150 tehsils are expected to participate, competing in seven core sports disciplines:
- Athletics
- Badminton
- Football
- Hockey
- Taekwondo
- Volleyball
- Wrestling
Khokhar emphasized that a systematic mechanism will be used to scout talented players through inter-tehsil, district, and division-level competitions. The goal is to prepare fresh, talented players for the national level by providing them with modern training techniques.
Sustained Support and Future Roadmap
To ensure the program's success, the government will organize training camps at the division level every three months to meticulously review the progress of the identified athletes. All possible facilities will be provided to these emerging stars to help them excel.
Furthermore, the minister highlighted the role of the Annual Sports Calendar in systematically unearthing new talent from the grassroots. In a major support initiative, talented players discovered through this program will also be included in the Punjab Sports Endowment Fund. This financial support will allow athletes to focus entirely on their high-level training and competition participation without any monetary worries.
This holistic approach, combining wide-reaching talent scouting, structured training, and financial backing, marks a pivotal step towards building a stronger sporting future for Punjab and Pakistan.
