Young athletes dazzle at Lahore’s Inter-School Gymnastics and Martial Arts Championship
Shehbaz Gymnastics and Rohail Kungfu Club lead the medal tally: Shotokan Club wins second position: Rills School System wins third position: Students from across Lahore display discipline and grit in gymnastics and kickboxing bouts: Champions, coaches and guests echo the need for greater support for school-level sports.
Lahore’s Allama Iqbal Town turned into a lively arena last Saturday as the Rills Schools System hosted the 12th Inter-School Gymnastics and Martial Arts Competition.
What could have been just another date on the school calendar instead became a reminder of how deeply discipline and athletic spirit run through young students when given the right platform.
Participants from an array of private schools, gymnastic centres and martial arts clubs poured into the venue with an energy that set the day in motion long before the first contest began.
The sheer enthusiasm became a reminder that sports, especially at the school level, remain an underappreciated thread holding together teamwork, confidence and resilience.
Shehbaz Gymnastics and Rohail Kungfu Club claimed a commanding lead on the medal table, collecting gold, silver and bronze across both gymnastics and martial arts categories. Its versatility stood out in nearly every segment of the championship.
Close behind came Shotokan Karate Club, securing one gold, two silver and three bronze medals. The standout moment for the club arrived when young athlete Asadullah clinched gold in the kickboxing category, drawing a warm round of applause from spectators and fellow competitors alike.
The Shotokan squad, featuring Asadullah, Aamaya Kashif, Aahaan Kashif, Ali Hyder, Ali Hassan, and Daniyal, displayed a seriousness toward training that is not often seen at this early stage.
The Rills Schools System Lahore earned the third position, while The Professionals School also lifted trophies, highlighting how talent continues to emerge from multiple corners of the city.
Kungfu Master Rohail Quraishi (Black Sash 5th Degree) served as judge, repeatedly emphasising the need to build stronger sporting platforms for youth.
The event’s organisation was led by veteran national gymnastics coach Jaffar Ali, alongside Kungfu Masters Arshad Ehtisham (Black Sash 2nd Degree) and Irfan Sharif (Black Sash 2nd Degree).
Chief guests Safa Rasheed (National Wushu Kungfu Champion), Umair Awan (National Wushu Kungfu Champion), and Dr Abubaker (Principal, Abubakar School and Academy) distributed medals and certificates, reminding the young participants that early encouragement often shapes tomorrow’s champions.