SWAP, SJAL celebrate World Sports Journalists Day in Lahore

SWAP, SJAL celebrate World Sports Journalists Day in Lahore

Asher Butt

The Sports Writers Association of Punjab and Sports Journalists Association of Lahore alongside other associations of Pakistan joined the global celebration of World Sports Journalists Day with a special event held here at the National Hockey Stadium in Lahore on Tuesday.

The event was also co-organized by the SWAP, SJAL and Pakistan Hockey Federation officials, bringing together prominent figures from the sports media and sports world.

Renowned personalities in attendance, included Secretary PHF (Pakistan Hockey Federation) Olympian Rana Mujahid Ali, Olympian Asif Bajwa, Hockey legend Shehbaz Sr., Pakistan Sports Writers Federation Chairman Shahid Shaikh, Chairman SAJL Zahid Maqsood, Mohammad Yaqub, Farrukh Butt, Acting President SAJL Shahzad Malik, Secretary SJAL Yousuf Anjum, Ejaz Sheikh, Sohail Imran, Olympian Anjum Saeed, Masoodur Rehman, Hafiz Shahbaz Ali, (participated virtually: Asher Butt), Abdul Rauf Rufi, Rana Azhar Noor, Waseem Ahmed, Azhar Masood, Shakeel Khattak, and Azhar Kazmi.

All the senior participants highlighted the importance of sports journalism. The event served as a platform to acknowledge the crucial role sports journalists play in the development of sports within the country. Speakers, including Zahid Maqsood and Asif Bajwa, emphasized this point, stating that "no federation and association can move forward without sports journalists."

Asif Bajwa further highlighted the evolving media landscape, acknowledging the past dominance of print media while emphasizing the current importance of presenting "the positive face of Pakistan to the world."

Secretary PHF, Rana Mujahid Ali, reiterated the Federation's commitment to supporting the welfare of sports journalists, recognizing their valuable contributions.

Olympian Shahbaz Sr. stressed the inseparable connection between sports journalists and sporting progress: "Sports cannot progress without journalists." Additionally, the importance of media in promoting Pakistan's national sport, hockey, was emphasized.

The ceremony concluded with the cutting of a cake commemorating the 100th anniversary of the International Sports Press Association (AIPS) - the organization behind World Sports Journalists Day.