Punjab Higher Education Minister Raja Yasir Humayun Sarfraz Tuesday said the University Sports League (USL) would act as the finest sports nursery for producing and grooming sportsmen for Olympics and national teams.

He was addressing a grand launch and trophy unveiling ceremony of USL held at the Government College University Lahore under the auspices of Higher Education Department, Punjab.

Legendary sportsmen including cricket star Saeed Ajmal, former Olympian Samiullah Khan, Pakistan Hockey Team head coach Khawaja Muhammad Junaid, former volleyball team capital Muhammad Naseer and Shabana Akhtar, Pakistan's first woman to compete at Olympics in 1996 were present. Giving details of the League, Raja Yasir said that as many as 381 teams of girls and boys from 59 universities were participating in ten games including Athletics, Cricket, Squash, Tennis, Volley Ball, Badminton, Football, Hockey and Basketball. He said that scholarships and cash awards worth Rs. 19 million would be awarded to the best sportsmen of the USL 2020 along with foreign tours and trainings. He announced that USL would become an annual feature of Punjab and promote sporting culture among the youth of their province and provide them with the healthy activities around the year. Olympian Samiullah Khan said that USL was a great idea as Pakistan desperately needed a system and a breeding ground for producing legendary sportsmen.