KARACHI, May 11: Federal Minister for Information and Media Development Nisar Ahmed Memon said Saturday that sportsmen need to be given due importance by the society as they are assets of the country.

“Sportsmen deserve protection and their achievements should be highlighted” he said while speaking at the closing ceremony of International Olympic Committee (IOC) Team Physicians’ Course here.

He said nations are recognised in the world through their achievements in sports. He recalled the contribution of Little Master Hanif Muhammad and Jahangir Khan and Jansher Khan in squash.

Asian Representative in IOC Medical Commission Prof. Keun- Youl Kim of South Korea congratulated SMAP for staging this course in difficult times.

He showered praise on late Dr Mallick for his contribution as President AFSM and SMAP at national and international level.

Course Director Dr. Danish Zaheer of Brunei, who was trained and groomed by Dr. Mallick said he was a fatherly figure for sports medicine. He said Dr. Mallick propelled to highest ranks because of his untiring work and was labelled as “Dr. Dope Control”.

He said they will continue his mission and dreams as his flag bearers.

Associate Secretary Pakistan Olympic Association (POA) Abdul Khaliq Khan said late Dr. Mallick earned an outstanding success in sports medicine with his vision and hard work.

He said Sports Medicine and Doping are now very important issues of Olympic movement to stop the use of performance enhancing drugs.

Chairman Organising Committee and Secretary General SMAP Dr. Pervez Rezvey promised to maintain the spirit of late Dr. Mallick in the promotion of sports and sports medicine.—APP