Patiala humming with activities on eve of Indo-Pak Punjab Games

PATIALA, Dec 4 (UNI): The former princely state of India is humming with activities on the eve of the inaugural Indo-Pak Punjab Games to be held here from December 5 to 11.

A spokesman for the organising committee, Gurbir Singh Sandhu, described the Indo-Pak Punjab Games as "an appropriate opportunity to bringing East and West Punjabs together.

The move, initiated by Indian Olympic Association secretary general Randhir Singh, is appreciable as Punjabis on both sides of the Indo-Pak border will bridge the gap between not only two Punjabs but also the two nations which have same culture, tradition and customs." Working chairman of the organising committee Rana Gurmit Singh Sodhi had already announced that the Games would be conducted annually, alternately in India and Pakistan.

This time, India have taken the initiative and West Punjab (Pakistan) Chief Minister Pervez Elahi will be the chief guest on the opening ceremony.

Mr Elahi has already arrived along with a delegation to attend the World Punjabi conference in Patiala.

Indian Defence Minister Pranab Mukerjee will be the chief guest at the closing ceremony on December 11.

Rana Sodhi said, " The results of the games, who wins, who loses does not matter but the goodwill and brotherhood, which will be generated with these games is going to play a major role in further normalising the relations between two neighbouring countries.

Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh, who is the chairman of the organising committee is personally supervising the arrangements and ensuring that the games create and convey the goodwill message across the world.

The organising committee has also chalked out a comprehensive cultural programme based on Punjabi culture every evening.

Artistes of both sides of Punjabs will present these cultural programme.

The National Institute Hostel Building, where the Pakistani players would be staying, has been given a new look.

POA (Pakistan) secretary general Idris Haider Khawaja had announced a 350-member Pakistan contingent, including technical officials and manager for the Indo-Pak Punjab Games.

The competitions will be held in athletics (men and women), badminton, cycling (men and women), gymnastics, handball, hockey, kabaddi (circle and national), rifle shooting, volleyball, tug of war, wrestling and polo.

The hockey match will be played at the Olympian Surjit Hockey Stadium in Jalandhar on December 9.

The shooting competitions would be conducted at the Markfed Shooting Ranges in Mohali.

The remaining events will be staged in Patiala.

Weightlifting was dropped following Indian lifters testing positive in the Athens Olympics and subsequent action by the Indian Olympic Association against the defaulters.

Basketball was dropped as there are reported to be two basketball associations in Pakistan.

Meanwhile, the torch which was received by legendary Flying Sikh Milkha Singh from wrestler Mohammad Bashir Bholla at the Wagah Border (Amritsar), has reached Patiala today via Chandigarh today amid enthusiasm.