NOWSHERA: The once-thriving sports grounds of Pabbi tehsil, where cheers of “Kabaddi, Kabaddi” resonated through the air, now stand silent. Volleyball nets hang loosely, kabaddi arenas are empty, and the legacy of local sportsmanship slowly fades as Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s youth are drawn deeper into the digital world.
At Aman Kot, Korvi, and Pabbi—the heart of traditional sports—the growing obsession with social media and the internet has reshaped recreational pastimes. The province, long known for its athletic traditions and having produced world-class squash players like Jahangir Khan, Jansher Khan, and Qamar Zaman, as well as Olympians in hockey and cricket stars like Umar Gul and Yasir Hameed, is witnessing a troubling decline in grassroots sports.
Once a vibrant hub of community gatherings, traditional games such as squash, volleyball, hockey, and kabaddi are now overshadowed by TikTok trends and YouTube shorts. Shabir Ahmed and Ehsanullah, former national players in volleyball and kabaddi, recall when local tournaments brought crowds in the hundreds. “In the late ’90s, these grounds were alive with energy. Now, it’s heartbreaking to see them deserted,” Shabir reminisced.
Before the digital boom post-2000, local tournaments transcended class and caste barriers, fostering community unity. Today, mobile phones and social media apps have replaced the physical playgrounds. With Pakistan boasting over 111 million internet users—72 million of whom actively engage with social media—platforms like Facebook, TikTok, YouTube, and Instagram are pulling youth into virtual spaces, far from the fields where champions were once made.
Squash legend Qamar Zaman expressed concern over declining attendance at his academy. “We had Roshan Khan, Jahangir Khan, Jansher Khan. But how can we discover the next champion if no one is playing?” he lamented. The erosion of traditional sports is compounded by inadequate infrastructure and budget cuts, with major projects like the Arbab Niaz Cricket Stadium’s renovations still incomplete after years of delay.
Despite these challenges, government officials remain hopeful. Fakhar Jehan, Adviser to the KP Chief Minister on Sports and Youth Affairs, stated that new initiatives are underway to revive sporting culture. “Schools now dedicate one day per week to sports, and we are near completion on the Arbab Niaz stadium upgrades,” he affirmed.
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As Pakistan celebrates the success of athletes like Arshad Nadeem, whose Olympic gold in javelin brought national pride, former stars like Shabir Ahmed, Qamar Zaman, and Umar Gul emphasise the need for grassroots investment. “Digital platforms can’t replace the life lessons learned on the field,” Shabir warned. “If we don’t act now, we risk losing more than just games—we’ll lose generations of talent.”
KP’s traditional sports may be at risk, but with focused policies, community support, and balanced digital engagement, there is still hope. Experts urge the KP government to increase sports quotas in professional colleges and introduce financial stipends to restore the province’s sporting legacy.
