LAHORE – The National Junior Badminton Championship commenced at the Nishtar Park Sports Complex Gymnasium Hall here on Friday. DG Sports and Youth Affairs Punjab Khizar Afzaal Chaudhry was the chief guest on this occasion. More than 300 male and female players from 10 teams such as Punjab, Sindh, Balochistan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Islamabad, Gilgit Baltistan, AJK, SNGPL, Army and Wapda are participating in the championship. In the women singles U-19 round of 32, Minahil Abbas beat Aman Sohail 21-3, 21-3, Fatima Khan beat Mariyam Sarfaraz 21-12, 21-10, Sania Sohail beat Hooria Nawaz 21-2, 21-9, Huda beat Mehar Nisar 21-7, 21-7, Amna Akhtar beat Eman Mukhtar 21-9, 21-8, Nida beat Fajar Amir 21-6, 21-10 and Noor un Niza beat Abiha Amir 21-13, 20-22, 21-11. Talking to media, DG Sports and Youth Affairs Punjab Khizar Afzaal Ch said that Junior National Badminton Championship is a suitable platform for young players to polish their game. “This championship will play a key role in the development of badminton game among the younger generation and several potential badminton players will emerge from this championship”.
He said that Punjab athletes have exhibited wonderful performance in the 35th National Games and finished ahead of several top departments on the medals tables. “Punjab Sports Department is working together with Punjab Olympic Association and all sports associations for the development of sports culture”.
