GILGIT: A three-day football tournament for women concluded in Yasin valley of Gilgit-Baltistan (GB) on Monday. As many as 12 local teams including two under-14 teams participated in the competitions.

Semi-final and final matches of the tournament took place on Monday. As many as 60 female football players were selected through regular trials before the tournament and six teams were formed. Later, the team members were trained. The players were selected for the Women’s Football Club and would be able to take part in national and international football competitions under Yasin Football Club.

The tournament, ‘Isthakam-i-Pakistan Inter-Club Women’s Football Tournament 2022’ was organised by Yasin Youth Sports committee in collaboration with GB Sports Board and GB Football Association in Barkolti village in Ghizer.

The final match was won by Bodol FC, defeating Broshal FC by two goals. Islam Inqalabi, chief organiser of the event told Dawn that a competition for girls was organised for the first time in the valley.

He said the tournament began on July 15 in polo ground, however the local administration intervened and stopped it until a no-objection certificate (NOC) was issued. The organisers then obtained an NOC for the event.

The local administration had strictly bound organisers to not conduct the event in an open ground, the chief organiser said, adding therefore the event was planned in a specific area with strict standard operating procedures (SOPs).

Shah Raheem, president of the Yaseen Youth Forum, was chief guest at the event. Trophies and certificates were distributed among winners and runner-up teams besides various players for their performances.

Mr Raheem appreciated the organisers’ efforts for arranging the events despite opposition from religious organisations and the district administration, criticising the local administration for creating hurdles for the event organisers.

Published in Dawn, July 26th, 2022