Report ANI
Sargodha — Radio Pakistan Sargodha’s programme “Shaheen Sargodha,” hosted by senior anchorperson Sibtain Baloch, featured a special discussion on the promotion of sports, encouraging young people to participate in physical activities, highlighting the achievements of female athletes, and showcasing the sporting talent of Sargodha.
Assistant Professor Sabahat Kulsoom, Guest Teacher of Health and Physical Education at Government Graduate College for Women, Farooq Colony, Sargodha, and Divisional Focal Person Sports, Sargodha Region, participated in the programme. Prominent college athletes Rubab Shakeel, Rubina Fatima, Mehreen Bashir, Laiba Ayub, Maryam Fatima and Maria Mushtaq also took part.
Assistant Professor Sabahat Kulsoom highlighted the outstanding achievements of the college’s students in various sports and briefed listeners on efforts being made to promote sports. She said the students had performed exceptionally at district, divisional and provincial levels, bringing honour to their institution and Sargodha.
She particularly highlighted the historic achievement of talented athlete Rubab Shakeel, who, for the first time, was declared “Golden Girl 2026” by the Higher Education Department (HED) in North Punjab in recognition of her outstanding sporting performance. She described the honour as a proud milestone for the college’s teachers and students.
Rubab Shakeel secured first position in the 800-metre race, second in the 1,500-metre and 400-metre races, and first position in the 4×100-metre relay, demonstrating her exceptional athletic ability.
The participation and sporting contributions of Rubina Fatima, Mehreen Bashir, Laiba Ayub, Maryam Fatima and Maria Mushtaq were also appreciated during the programme.
The college’s students have secured prominent positions in various athletics events, including the 100m, 200m, 400m, 800m, 1,500m, 3,000m and 5,000m races, javelin throw, long jump, triple jump, high jump, shot put and discus throw. The college teams have also performed notably in badminton, volleyball, basketball, handball, tug-of-war, cricket, kabaddi and karate, while the hockey team secured second position at the provincial level.
The programme also paid special tribute to renowned international athlete Ali Muhammad Awan of Sargodha for his services to sports and his achievements at national and international levels.
Ali Muhammad Awan achieved notable success in the 800m and 1,500m events from 2008 to 2016. He won a bronze medal at the SAF Games 2010, reached the final of the Asian Athletics Championships and won a silver medal at an indoor competition in Tehran. In 2013, he won a gold medal in the 800m in Tehran, Iran, bringing honour to Pakistan at the international level.
The programme also highlighted Ali Muhammad Awan’s initiative to organise a marathon race to encourage young people to participate in sports and healthy activities. The race will be held on Sunday, October 4, 2026, starting at 9:00 a.m. from Canal Road. Cash prizes have been announced for prominent position holders in different categories.
During the programme, participants emphasised that developing sports grounds and providing young people with opportunities for healthy activities is a collective responsibility of society. They also discussed the challenges faced by female students in sports, the need for better facilities, training opportunities and a more supportive sporting environment.
The participants stressed that teachers, sports instructors, coaches and athletes who have represented Pakistan at national and international levels should play a more effective role in this regard. They said guidance from experienced athletes and sharing their achievements with the younger generation could inspire greater enthusiasm and confidence among young people.
The role of the media in promoting sports was also described as crucial. Participants said the media could play an effective role in bringing talented athletes, sporting activities and the challenges faced by players before the public.
They appreciated Radio Pakistan Sargodha for highlighting sports, youth and the achievements of women, saying that such programmes help bring talented young people into the spotlight and encourage them to pursue greater achievements.
“When sports grounds thrive, talent flourishes;
and when talent finds a pathway, nations move forward.”
The programme was hosted by senior anchorperson Sibtain Baloch, while Muhammad Jamshed Qadri served as Programme Producer and Fariha Kanwal as Executive Producer.
