PESHAWAR:

Preparations are in full swing for the National Junior Championship 2026, which is scheduled to begin on June 7 at the Qayyum Sports Complex in Peshawar.

Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister, Sohail Afridi, will formally inaugurate the event in a grand opening ceremony on June 7.

Advisor to the Chief Minister on Sports and Youth Affairs, Taj Muhammad Khan Tarand, announced the details while addressing the media. He said a total of 952 talented male and female athletes from all four provinces and various government departments will participate in the championship.

Director General Sports Tashfeen Haider and Director Operations Jamshaid Baloch were also present on the occasion.

The six-day event, organized by the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Directorate General of Sports, will feature competitions in Squash, Table Tennis, Athletics, Badminton, Karate, and Volleyball. Separate events have been arranged for male and female athletes in all disciplines, except Volleyball, which will be held only in the men’s category.

Squash matches will be played earlier, from June 3 to June 5, while the remaining competitions will run from June 8 to June 10.

Taj Muhammad Khan Tarand urged young athletes to make the most of this opportunity to showcase their talent.

“This championship is not just a sporting event; it is a vital platform to discover and nurture young talent from across the country,” he said, adding that participants should aim to bring laurels to their provinces and Pakistan.

He further stated that under the leadership of Chief Minister Sohail Afridi, the provincial government is committed to providing equal and quality sporting facilities to the youth to help them excel at national and international levels.