M Abubakar Durrani of Pakistan Customs won Sprint Canoeing Championship at the 34th National Games. He clinched three gold medals in the categories of K-1 (200m), K-2 (200m), and 200m (Mixed) and got declared the best Kayaking athlete of the championship. The Canoeing Sprint events of the National Games were held at Hayat Durrani Water Sports Academy at Hanna Lake, Quetta in collaboration with Pakistan Canoe & Kayak Federation and Balochistan Canoeing Association.
The canoeing sprint events were included for the first time in the national games to provide an electrifying atmosphere to the country’s top kayakers at Hanna Lake where they navigated through the twisting currents, showcasing their strength, and tactical acumen.
According to details, Abubakar secured first position and Noor Muhammad took second position while Ayaz Kassi stood third in the K-1 (200m) race. In the K-2 (200m) Open race, the pair of Abubakar and Farhanullah Kakar secured first position and the duo of M Asif and M Yousaf took second position while Dolat Khan and Farooq Ahmed grabbed third position.
As many as 70 athletes from KPK, Gilgit Bilthistan, Sindh, Balochistan, Pakistan Customs, Provincial Disaster Management Authority Balochistan, BUITMS and HDWSA participated in the event.
The event’s success was made possible through the expertise and dedication of the judges and coaches. M Aslam Kassi served as the Starting Judge, while Dr. Farooq Jaffar and Najeeb Khan took charge as Track Judges. Khanzada Idrees Tareen and Sameen Khan Noorzai served as Finishing Judges, ensuring fair competition and accurate results.
Miss Rahillah Hameed Durrani, Ex-Speaker of Balochistan Assembly and Patron-in-Chief of PCKF graced the final competitions and prize distribution ceremony as the chief guest.
The team trophy was awarded to M Abubakar Durrani, captain of the winning team from Pakistan Customs, Quetta, and the runner up trophy went to Kalsum Jaffar, a Kayak Paddler from HDWSA, while the PDMA Balochistan claimed the third position.
Miss Durrani, emphasizing the positive impact of Canoeing Sports on the youth, expressed her full support for the promotion of Canoeing Olympic sports in Pakistan as well in Balochistan.
She congratulated Hayatullah Khan Durrani, Secretary of PCKF and founder/Chief Executive of HDWSA, for the successful organization of the successful National Games Canoe Kayak Championship 2023.
Prior to the championship, a 20-day canoeing training camp was organized by PCKF and HDWSA provided all necessary equipment including Canoes, Kayaks, modern racing boats, paddles, life jackets, and motor boats to judges and for rescue operations. The technical staff for the championship was also provided by HDWSA.