Eventually, Pakistan Sports Board (PSB) has expedited efforts to provide training camps to various disciplines for the preparations of the forthcoming international assignments. The other day the Board approved camps of karate, judo, kabaddi and wrestling. The camps of hockey, volleyball, weightlifting and taekwondo are already in operation.

Pakistan is scheduled to feature in Commonwealth Games, Islamic Games, Asian Games and South Asian Games (SAG). It means the camps will continue until the SAG which Pakistan is supposed to host in March 2023 for which preparations have already been started by the government.

Camps have been delayed but still it's a good move from the PSB as it has come at a time when players are under pressure on various fronts. Their jobs in departments are at stake and majority of the leading athletes have already shown their concerns.

If we see other nations we will find that they have been extra-busy in preparations for these events. We are far behind. But still I am hopeful we have athletes who with a little push can achieve glory in the Commonwealth Games, Islamic Games and South Asian Games. Yes, Asian Games are very tough and for that we need a constant policy to prepare the top lot.

These days IPC and PSB hold meetings with federations and ask them about their needs and demands relating to preparations for the forthcoming events. Three of them are scheduled inside two months which is not easy to manage, especially for those athletes who are to feature in all these events.

One thing I have come to know is quite discouraging. And it is that the state authorities tell federations that it is their duty to manage foreign training tours for their athletes ahead of these major Games.

I believe that it will be a Herculean task for federations to manage such tours for their players as these are too expensive.

This notion was, however, negated by the DG PSB during an interview with me the other day as he promised that the Board will back potential federations in their foreign training tours. It's a good stance.

The government needs to allocate a huge amount for proper preparations of its frontline athletes who can win medals in these events.

I have seen that sponsors are least interested in backing Olympic sports, so the state support is vital for federations. It's not easy for Olympic sports to attract sponsors in an environment dominated by cricket. And that is why the rest of the sports struggle.

But the state cannot do everything. Federations definitely will need to create opportunities for their athletes to go abroad for training. Without foreign training we should not expect much from our athletes.

I have noted that some federations have been bringing sponsors from provinces to manage their athletes' foreign tours and training.

The DG PSB Col (retd) Mohammad Asif Zaman has been seen taking interest in doing something for Pakistani athletes.

But realistically speaking the DG also has his limitations as the IPC Ministry is the top authority and so things get delayed sometimes.

Asif is also interested in providing foreign coaches to the federations that are expected to do something good in these events. But I will suggest to Asif that he should expedite the process of hiring foreign coaches so that quality preparations could be made for the coming events.

Some federations are reluctant and want the PSB to write to them that the Board will provide them foreign coaches and only then they will contact foreign coaches. The actual plan is to hire foreign coaches until the 14th South Asian Games which Pakistan is supposed to host in March 2023.

It's the best time to focus on training. And federations should also be backed by the IPC Ministry in bringing foreign nations for joint training camps. Federations should be encouraged to invite foreign teams for series and joint training as it will also help boost the image of Pakistan and revive international sports in the country.

The PSB should also provide quality diet to the players during training camps. Due to renovation of the PSB facilities both at the central and provincial levels it's not easy for the Board to provide top treatment to the athletes. However, Asif is confident that things will go in the right direction.

And good news for Pakistan is that eventually javelin throwers Arshad Nadeem and Mohammad Yasir got South Africa visas and left for Johannesburg Thursday night to undergo training under the supervision of a South African coach. They will train for four months. Let's see how it goes and how the Olympian Arshad can develop his throw.

Arshad is a great medal hope of Pakistan in all the aforementioned international events. Besides these Games, Arshad is set to feature in the World Championships to be held in Oregon, US, in July. Hope Pakistan prepares well for the major assignments.3

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