Untapped talent

The letter refers to the editorial ‘Another young star’ (January 12, 2025). The editorial eloquently celebrates the remarkable achievements of young athletes like Sohail Adnan and Mahnoor Ali, whose feats in squash remind us of Pakistan’s rich sporting heritage. Their victories not only inspire national pride but also underscore an undeniable truth: Pakistan is brimming with untapped talent waiting to be nurtured. All too often, this talent is simply left waiting. Sohail Adnan’s triumphant run at the British Junior Open, ending an 18-year gold medal drought, and Mahnoor Ali’s remarkable collection of international accolades are nothing short of phenomenal. These young champions embody the potential of Pakistan’s youth to excel on the global stage.

Yet, as the editorial rightly highlights, such brilliance often fizzles out due to systemic neglect, leaving Pakistan a shadow of its former self in sports like squash, hockey, and athletics. This reality is not an indictment of our athletes but of the failure to establish robust structures that can channel their raw talent into sustained excellence. The achievements of our youngest stars show that Pakistan’s talent pool is deep and vibrant but remains grossly underutilised. The solution lies in designing and implementing prudent strategies to tap into this reservoir of potential.

Majid Burfat

Karachi