India, Uzbekistan participation in volleyball event in doubt

LAHORE: The participation of India and Uzbekistan in the Central Asian Volleyball League is in doubt.

The event is scheduled to begin on May 11 at the Liaquat Gymnasium in Islamabad. “The participation of India and Uzbekistan is in doubt. In India elections are being held and there the bureaucracy and everybody is busy. Their federation has some problems and it is not getting any green signal. Uzbekistan told us that they were coming but so far they have not sent us names of the players and officials,” PVF chairman Chaudhry Mohammad Yaqoob told ‘The News’ on Sunday.

“If these two nations are not able to come then it will be a six-team event carrying Pakistan, Iran, Sri Lanka, Turkmenistan, Kyrgyzstan and Afghanistan,” said Yaqoob, also a former top police official.

“In case of six-team event each side will face each other once. On the final day the top two teams will compete for the top spot while the third and fourth position holders will clash for the third place,” Yaqoob said.

He said that there will be three matches in a day. “We will start around 2pm and it will be followed by the second game at 4pm with the third to begin at 6pm,” he said. “It will be a seven-day event which will last until May 17,” the official was quick to add.

He said that Liaquat Gymnasium is fine. “Liaquat Gymnasium is okay. We are preparing it. The hall is first-class. It’s air-conditioner system is not working and we are managing that,” Yaqoob said.

“I also plan to meet IPC secretary tomorrow and we will discuss with him various matters so that we could hold this event in a befitting way,” he said. “We are also working on security arrangements and I hope it will be a good event,” said Yaqoob.

The official said that every effort will be made to engage fans, adding they will invite schools and colleges. Yaqoob said that Pakistan’s those players, who were offshore due to their commitment in foreign leagues, have joined the camp.

“Only Murad Junior has not yet joined due to fever. Till yesterday he had not joined and hopefully he might have joined today,” the official said. Pakistan have recently hired Argentinian coach Ruben Wolochin in place of Brazilian coach Issanaye Ramires Ferraz who has left to join South Korea.

Issanaye developed Pakistan team well during his year-long-stint and last year in Hangzhou the Green-shirts pulled off a highly respectable performance in the 19th Asian Games by finishing fifth. “Ruben is good. He is an experienced campaigner. He has been hired for one year and he will also be Pakistan’s coach in the 14th South Asian Games which Pakistan will host,” Yaqoob said.