Sunday, March 29, 2009

History of National Games

The father of the Nation Quaid-i-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah had a great love for sports and fully released the vital role it played in the development of Nations and inculcation of discipline among the masses.

In a meeting with the Organizing Committee of the First Pakistan Olympic Games held at Karachi the Quaid-i-Azam said to the first President of Pakistan Olympic Association Mr. Ahmed E.H. Jaffar :



"Dedicate yourself to sports promotion, for when you and I are gone, leadership will go into the hands of Youth, and Youth is our wealth, a raw material, that must be hammered into shape, into burnished steel to strive and smite in defence - the defence of the integrity and solidarity of Pakistan - the defence of the ideology of Pakistan."


Jinnah_MemberPOA.jpg (577286 bytes)

Quaid-i-Azam with the members of the First Pakistan Olympic Association 1948

The first National Games were held at Polo Ground, Karachi from 23rd to 25th April, 1948. Sportsmen and officials from East Pakistan (now Bangladesh) and all the integrated Provincial units of West Pakistan took part in these Games. The total number of athletes was 140. No competitors were, however, invited from any foreign country. Competitions were held in Track and Field, Basketball, Boxing, Cycling, Volleyball, Weightlifting and Wrestling.

On April 23, 1948 our beloved Father of the Nation drove - in - state, to declare the Games open. Quaid-i-Azam gave the following message on the occasion:-

Quaid_declare_1stPNGOpen.jpg (269583 bytes)
Quaid-i-Azam declares the 1st Pakistan
National Games open

"For sound minds we should have sound bodies and that is why nations the world over attach so much importance to bodybuilding and physical culture, The Pakistan Olympic Games should set an incentive to all Pakistan Nationals to emulate the Olympic Motto "CITIUS, ALTIUS, FORTIUS" i.e. "FASTER, HIGHER AND STRONGER". I wish the organizers of the Games and all competitors of the Games and all competitors the best luck, Build up Pakistan Higher, Firmer and Strong".



The overall championship was won by the Punjab contingent. The Quaid-i-Azam donated a "Challenge Shield" from his private funds which bears his illustrious name.


Quaid_Trophy.jpg (259936 bytes)
Quaid-i-Azam Trophy



Quaid-i-Azam's philosophy about Pakistan Youth, is expressed most forcefully in a letter he sent to the late Mr. M. A. Khaliq, the Organizing Secretary of the First Pakistan Olympic Games in May, 1948.


"Well, we have crossed hurdles and breasted the tape at the 'Wining Post', this the people say in smugness. I maintain that we have only run the first lap of marathon relay race. I have passed the baton to others to dash on from lap to lap, determined and dedicated, United and Disciplined, with faith in themselves and God".


Your race to destiny, shall be calculatingly cluttered wit obstacles, and if you have Unity, Faith and Discipline, nothing will ever stop you from becoming sturdy and strong. Strength alone is an effective deterrent to aggression.

Build leadership on the play fields, and try to become good followers. Remember no one can ever command, who does not learn how to obey. Be a builder. Build for others.

Pakistan National Games are the most prestigious event of our National Sports Calendar which are organized under the aegis of Pakistan Olympic Association biennually in rotation in collaboration with the respective Provincial Olympic Associations and Provincial Governments. In these Games all the affiliated units of Pakistan Olympic Association take part.



top of page

Result of previous National Games

Year
Venue
Winner
Runner-up
1948
Karachi
Punjab
aa
1950
Lahore
Services
aa
1952
Lahore
Services
aa
1954
Sahiwal
Not trophy was awarded
aa
1955
Dhaka (formerly East Pak)
Services
aa
1956
Lahore
Pakistan Army

1958
Peshawar
Pakistan Army
aa
1960
Dhaka (formerly East Pak)
Pakistan Army
aa
1962
Lahore
Pakistan Army
aa
1964
Dhaka (formerly East Pak)
Pakistan Army
aa
1966
Lahore aaa aa
1968
Dhaka (formerly East Pak) aaa aa
1970
Karachi
Pakistan Army
aa
1972
Lahore
Pakistan Army
aa
1974
Peshawar
Pakistan Army
aa
1976
Karachi
Pakistan Army
aa
1978
Lahore
Pakistan Army
Pakistan Railways
1980
Karachi
Pakistan Army
Sindh
1982
Peshawar
Pakistan Army
Punjab
1984
Faisalabad
Pakistan Army
Punjab
1986
Quetta
Pakistan Army
Punjab
1988
Karachi
Pakistan Army
Punjab
1990
Peshawar
Pakistan Army
Punjab
1992
Lahore
Pakistan Army
Punjab
1995
Quetta
Pakistan Army
WAPDA
1996
Karachi
Pakistan Army
WAPDA
1998
Peshawar
Pakistan Army
WAPDA
2001
Lahore
Pakistan Army
WAPDA
2004
Quetta
Pakistan Army
WAPDA
2006
Karachi
Pakistan Army
WAPDA

top of page

Medal Tally of 30th National Games

S.No.
Unit
Points
Medals
Gold
Silver
Bronze
Total
1
Army
4985
111
101
67
279
2
WAPDA
3993
88
54
83
225
3
Sindh
1559
14
25
31
70
4
Navy
1543
29
24
22
75
5
Railways
1167
6
12
28
65
6
Punjab
1158
6
12
28
46
7
Police
961
4
10
24
38
8
Air Force
658
1
6
15
22
9
NWFP
450
2
2
8
12
10
Balochistan
426
3
4
16
23
11
Higher Education Commission
386
4
3
6
13

0 comments: