Swimming competition held in Bamyan

BAMYAN CITY (Pajhwok): A swimming competition was held in central Bamyan province on Thursday amid the youth’s growing interest in the sport.

Technical and Professional Director for Sports Rajab Ali Fitrat told Pajhwok Afghan News recently youths were showing great interest in swimming in the province.

He said his department registered 200 swimmers including teenagers, youths and adults this year, compared to less than 100 athletes last year.

Fitrat said swimming had recently become the most attracting sport among the youth of Bamyan.

According to him, earlier Bamyan lacked swimming pools and places for competitions, but recently, a private swimming pool has been built in the province, which has the capacity for 20 swimmers.

Swimmers welcomed the holding of the competitions in the province and sought more attention from the government in promoting the sport.

Nader Mohammadi, a swimmer, said no swimming competitions had ever been held in Bamyan before because the youths were not interested.

Hassan Ali, another swimmer, said no facilities for swimming exited and those interested used the most basic facilities if have.

Hassan asked officials to hold swimming tournaments and pay attention to support the athletes and provide them with facilities.

On the other hand, Fitrat said holding the swimming competition was aimed to support and improve the skills of athletes.

In the competitions, Ramin won first place, Mustafa second place and Hassan Jan finished third.

Ffitrat said the Physical Education Department was trying to build more swimming pools in the province and hold swimming competitions.

hz/ma