Pakistan Army secure gold medal in netball at 35th National Games

KARACHI: Pakistan Army won the men’s netball tournament, securing a gold medal at the 35th National Games.

Pakistan Army defeated the Navy in the final by 29-26, who finished with a silver medal, while Wapda ended their campaign with a bronze.

On the other hand, in the women's netball competition, Sindh finished with the gold medal, Wapda secured a silver medal, and Army clinched bronze.

The chief guest, Sindh Government Secretary for Sports Munawar Ali Mahesar, distributed the prizes among the winners.

The 35th National Games, set to run across 24 venues until December 13, was formally inaugurated by Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari here at the National Bank Stadium on Saturday.

The star-studded opening ceremony for the event kicked off with Olympic gold medallist Arshad Nadeem lighting the torch.

During the ceremony, the participating athletes of the provinces and departments performed a march past, while Olympian Nadeem made a ceremonial javelin throw, receiving applause from the audience and high-profile guests.

Nadeem is hopeful that the event will help Pakistan unearth talented athletes in every discipline.

The star athlete, while addressing the media on the sidelines of the Games' star-studded opening ceremony, said that the top performers of the Games will be called up for the national camp and may also get the opportunity to represent the country globally next year.

For the unversed, the 35th National Games will feature 14 teams, comprising departments and provinces, including hosts Sindh, Punjab, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Balochistan, Islamabad, Azad Jammu and Kashmir and Gilgit Baltistan, alongside Pakistan Army, Pakistan Air Force, Pakistan Navy, WAPDA, Pakistan Police and Higher Education Commission (HEC).