International Judo Day Celebrated with Enthusiasm in Peshawar

International Judo Day Celebrated with Enthusiasm in Peshawar,

Featuring Inter-District Competitions

PESHAWAR:  by Ghani Ur Rehman

The Pakistan Judo Federation (PJF), in alignment with its regional units, celebrated International Judo Day with great enthusiasm across various cities, including Peshawar. The event commemorated the birthday of judo’s founder, Jigoro Kano Shihan, with a special cake-cutting ceremony at Qayyum Sports Complex.

The esteemed guest for the event was Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s Secretary of Sports and Youth Affairs, Matiullah Khan, joined by Additional Secretary of Sports Pir Abdullah Shah, Director of Sports Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Saleem Raza, and PJF Secretary Masood Ahmed.

Participants expressed their joy over the growth of judo in Pakistan, attributing this success to the efforts of the PJF. They highlighted judo’s importance as a sport that nurtures physical, mental, emotional, and social development, underscoring its positive impact on all aspects of life.

The day also marked the 17th Men’s and 10th Women’s Inter-District Judo Championships held at Lala Rafiq Sports Arena, where male and female athletes from various Khyber Pakhtunkhwa districts showcased their talents.

Esteemed players Malaika Noor, the first Pakistani junior athlete to compete in the International Judo Federation (IJF) events, and Mohammad Abbas, who excelled at the Asian Cadet and Junior Championships in Korea, also attended, inspiring the audience with their achievements.

In the women’s championship, Abbottabad secured first place with 85 points, while Lakki Marwat took second with 60 points. In the men’s event, Khyber Tribal District triumphed with 93 points, and Peshawar followed closely with 87 points.

The event was not only a celebration of judo’s positive impact but also an inspiring display of grassroots talent emerging through the efforts of the Pakistan Judo Federation.