The 'Inoki's Wrestling for Peace Festival' organised here on Wednesday. The day-long event inaugurated by the world famous Japanese wrestler Muhammad Hussain Inoki in a colourful ceremony held under auspices of Provincial Department of Sports and Tourism Corporation, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa here at Qayyum Sports Complex.
The traditional Khattak and Mehsud dance was presented at opening ceremony, while a para gliders and horse also performed their skills. During the day-long festival, traditional games like "Peto-Garam, Guli Danda" and Kabadi played. The Japanese wrestler along with his team arrived at the sports complex, the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Minister for Information, Mian Iftikhar Hussain, Sports Minister, Syed Aqil Shah and a large number of spectators warmly welcome him. The Japanese team visited the capital to convey a message of peace in this region and the rest of world.
"Situation is very favourable for holding such sports festival, as four events almost organised in province," said Mian Iftikhar Hussain while addressing the opening ceremony. "We want to convey a peace message by organising such sports events across the world," he added.
He further said, "people are more peace loving, but they are badly affected by the ongoing militancy and insurgency. He specially thanked Provincial Sports Minister, Syed Aqil Shah for holding this international event in Peshawar. He also thanked the world famous wrestler Inoki for holding the wrestling festival in Peshawar and providing moments of pleasure to the people of war-hit province.
He vowed to welcome holding of such type of national and international events in Peshawar. The minister said arrangements have been finalised to hold Bacha Khan International Wrestling for Peace Championship at Qayyum Stadium Peshawar from December 8 and 9, 2012. Wrestlers from India, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Afghanistan and Pakistan would be participated in two-day sports event. He appealed the people to participate in large number in Bacha Khan International Wrestling for Peace Championship.