August 30, 2003	Saturday	Rajab 1, 1424

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KARACHI, Aug 29: A top Pakistan Olympic Association (POA) official expressed confidence on Friday that the thrice-postponed 9th South Asian Federation (SAF) Games will be held in Islamabad in the first quarter of 2004.

Latif Butt, secretary general of the POA said on Friday that all the member countries of the South Asian Sports Federation (SASF) have shown a keen interest in participating in the Games if they are held in Pakistan next year. He said that the Games should now finally take place in March 2004.

Pakistan were allotted to hold the ninth edition of the SAF Games two years back but had to postpone it because of the 9/11 incidents in the United States and later because of border tensions with India.

One of the main hurdles in holding the Games have been the reluctance shown by India in competing in the event to be organised by Pakistan.

But Latif said that he has been given solid assurances by top Indian sports officials who have said that if Pakistan decides to host the Games, they will certainly send a full-fledged contingent.

POA official said that similar assurances have been given by other participating nations including Bhutan and Maldives.

A total of eight countries are scheduled to take part in the SAF Games including Pakistan, India, Bangladesh, Srilanka, Nepal, Bhutan, Maldives and newly included Afghanistan.

Latif said that he sees no reason why the SAF Games cannot be held in Pakistan next year and the Pakistani government was also taking a keen interest in finally hosting the Games.

He pointed out that Pakistan have already spent millions of rupees on preparing the infra-structure, purchase of equipment and thetraining of its sportsmen and women for the Games during the last couple of years and it will be a pity if the country fails to hold the ninth edition of the Games.

Latif said that the Sri Lankan officials have already said that they were not willing to hold the Games that were awarded to Pakistan as they have planned to host the tenth SAF Games in Colombo in 2005.

He said that the top officials of the SASF member countries will be meeting in Lahore on September in which they will decide the fate of the Games.

Pakistan has a dearth of qualified persons in the field of sports that is the reason behind the down fall of sports in the country, he said.

“We are lacking all the three important factors to run the affairs properly that are technical officials, coaches and sports administrators” declared Latif.

He said in the past we depended on foreign coaches, who were not available at the suitable time for us. While talking about the ongoing Sports Administration Course, he said that the ongoing AOC Sports Administration Course organised by POA is being run by six AOC qualified coaches.