The University of Agriculture Faisalabad on Sunday opened three-day national tent pegging championship as part of ongoing spring festival in which horse riders from more than 100 clubs across the country are taking part.
The championship was inaugurated by Federal Interior Minister RanaSanaullah Khan who was flanked by UAF Vice Chancellor Prof Dr Iqrar Ahmad Khan. The day witnessed eye-catching and attractive tent pegging by riders waving spears to collect the wooden peg amid clouds of dust rising from the grounds. The rider hanging halfway down while galloping with high speed to lift the piece of wood with a spear is a main source of attraction for speculators.
The event was arranged by the UAF in collaboration with Equestrian Federation of Pakistan whereas Nehal Ahmad Khan, Rana Amir Saeed, Khadim Hussain and others organized the event. Rana Sanaullah Khan said that tent pegging presents our rural culture. It was the need of the hour to connect the youth with our rich tradition and norms. He said that the nations who value their culture and remain intact with their norms progress in the world. He lauded the efforts of UAF for the agriculture sector and to arrange festivals.
He urged the agricultural scientists to come up with the valuable research works and to spread the new agricultural trends with the fragrance of rural development for ensuring food security and to alleviate poverty at grassroots level. He said that the government was taking all possible steps for the uplift of the agriculture sector Prof Dr Iqrar Ahmad Khan said tent-pegging is a historical sport which was essential for warriors.
It was spread to various parts of the world by Asian and later European empires. He added that tent pegging had become a permanent feature of UAF sports activities. He said that the UAF being the first agricultural university in the subcontinent always takes the lead in addressing the agricultural challenges. He said that the two-day D 8-conference on food security will be held on March 6 in which experts from all D8 countries including Egypt, Bangladesh, Iran Indonesia, Malaysia, Nigeria, Turkey and Pakistan will take part.
