August 14, 2002	Wednesday	Jamadi-us-Saani 4, 1423

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ISLAMABAD, Aug 13: There will be no Pakistani representation in athletics at this fall’s Asian Games in Busan, Brig. Saulat Abbas head of the country’s sports board said Tuesday.

“We need to improve standards in athletics and unless this is done no athlete will be sent to major sporting events including the Olympic and Asian Games,” he told Dawn after meeting with officials of the Pakistan Olympic Association.

In the meeting convened specifically to decide the size of the Asiad party, the sports managers agreed to a pattern to be followed in finalising the contingent for Asiad.

Saulat said that boxing and weightlifting, two disciplines that earned Pakistan a gold and three silvers at the Commonwealth Games, would be given the importance they deserve.

There will be a total of 10 boxers representing the country while the weightlifting team will comprise four players, he said.

“We had asked both the boxing and weightlifting federations to decide on the strength of their respective squads and they have now informed us about the numbers.”

The size of the Pakistan contingent will be approximately 100 players and officials and this number wouldn’t include football and boxing, sports that will be on their own, Saulat said. The PSB has a budget of Rs 18.3 million for the Games.

Swimmers Kiran Khan and Sana Wahid, both of whom competed at the Commonwealth Games, will also be making the trip to Busan. “Although we know these two girls are still very young to make their mark, we need to encourage them.”

Meanwhile Latif Butt, secretary of POA who attended the meeting, said that priority would be given to sports that have earned medals at the past three Asiads, followed by disciplines that have a medal chance in the SAF Games that Pakistan host next year.

“If funds are available, then teams that we are preparing for the future may also get a chance,” Khawaja Farooq Saeed, Vice President of POA who was also in the meeting along with treasurer Sarfraz Ahmed, said.