PESHAWAR (IN) Governor Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Faisal Karim Kundi on Thursday presented an award to international squash player Khushhal Riaz Khan in recognition of his outstanding performances at national and international levels.The awards were announced in November to acknowledge athletes from across the province who excelled in various sports. However, Khushhal was unable to attend the ceremony at that time as he was participating in a training camp in preparation for the National Games.
He formally received the award during a meeting with the Governor at Governor House Peshawar.A student of Sarhad University of Science and Technology, Khushhal has represented Pakistan in several prestigious international tournaments, including the British Junior Open, US Junior Open, Canadian Junior Open, Japan Junior Open, and Qatar Junior Open, where he delivered commendable performances.He also captains the Higher Education Commission (HEC) squash team and recently secured a bronze medal at the National Games held in Quetta, finishing third in his category.The award ceremony was attended by Vice Chancellor Dr. Saleem-ur-Rehman and Sports Director Professor Usman Farid. The Vice Chancellor briefed the Governor on the university’s academic and extracurricular initiatives, particularly the efforts of the Department of Sports Sciences in promoting sports among students.Governor Kundi appreciated the university’s commitment to nurturing sporting talent, emphasizing that participation in healthy sports activities alongside academics plays a vital role in the overall development of youth. He expressed hope that other universities in the province would also strengthen their sports infrastructure to encourage wider student involvement.Congratulating Khushhal, the Governor described talented youth as a valuable asset and a source of pride for both the province and the country, and wished him continued success in his future endeavors.
