Underperforming sports bodies warned of withdrawal of govt support

ISLAMABAD: Deploring poor sports standards in the country, Adviser to the Prime Minister on Political and Public Affairs and Inter-Provincial Coordination (IPC) Rana Sanaullah Khan made it clear on Tuesday that sports federations failing to meet expectations will not receive government support.

Addressing a ceremony to celebrate the 100th anniversary of World Sports Journalist Day, the IPC adviser highlighted that Pakistan, a country with around 250 million people, has almost no representation in the Olympic Games, while smaller countries have over 100 participants.

“Only our four athletes — three shooters and one javelin thrower Arshad Nadeem — are going to participate in the Olympic Games to be held in France. This is unacceptable. We are a big country and only four of our athletes have qualified for the Olympic Games. This is a matter of concern,” he said. He added that federations must focus on improvement or the government will not support those federations that yield no serious results.

He praised the role of sports journalists and stated that his ministry would fully cooperate with sports writers to bring positive changes to the sports sector in the country.

The event was organised by the Rawalpindi Islamabad Sports Journalist Association (RISJA) in collaboration with Serena Hotels, Islamabad Chamber of Commerce and others to celebrate the World Sports Journalist Day. Speakers highlighted the vital role of sports journalism in promoting sportsmanship and global sports coverage. Head of the Prime Minister’s Youth Programme, Rana Mashhood Khan, called sports reporters unsung heroes, emphasizing their important role in promoting sports in the country. He noted that sports have become an industry globally and that Pakistan was also trying to develop this industry. He mentioned that Pakistan is blessed with talent, and when the hockey team was selected on merit this year, it produced excellent results. He said that under the youth programme, 23 sports are being focused on, and his office was working closely with sports bodies to raise sports standards. The Inspector General Police, Islamabad, Ali Nasir Rizvi, highlighted the crucial role of sports journalists. He praised RISJA’s leadership for organising the event, noting that sports are an indicator of a country’s prosperity and should be given more attention. Former member of the Pakistan Cricket Board’s Governing Board, Shakil Shaikh, former Test cricketer Naveed Qureshi, senior journalists Hamid Mir, Kashif Abbasi, Syed Talat Hussain, Amjad Aziz Malik (Secretary General of the Asian Sports Journalists Association) and several others also spoke on the occasion.