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| August 26, 2005 | Friday | Rajab 20, 1426 |
PSAF needs Rs14m for Asian Games preparations
KARACHI, Aug 25: The Pakistan Sailing Federation (PSAF) has requested the Pakistan Olympic Association (POA) to allocate a fund of Rs 14 million for training of sailors’ in the European circuit next season in order to ensure a medal at the 2006 Qatar Asian Games.
The formal request was made by secretary PSAF, Capt (retd) S. V. Hasan, at a presentation to the POA chief Lt. Gen Syed Arif Hasan at Islamabad on Aug 17.
“PSAF was facing financial constraints and timely allocation of funds for sailors’ participation in international regattas abroad can only guarantee a medal at the Asiad,” Hasan told Dawn on Thursday.
Pakistan, he said, was far behind schedule as compared to giants China, Japan and South Korea and paucity of funds had restricted sailors’ foreign trips during this year’s season.
If things went smoothly, Pakistan would feature in pre-Asian at Qatar and at least eight international regattas in European circuit next year under the supervision of foreign coaches before entering into the Asian Games.
According to the PSAF secretary, besides participation of sailors’ in the circuit abroad, the funds would be spent on purchase of two boats for each of the eight classes and hiring the services of foreign experts,
Hasan, who is himself a veteran sailor, said featuring against world’s best yachtsmen in Europe would enhance the standard of Pakistani sailors.
He regretted that shortage of funds had compelled home sailors to stay away from European circuit for the last few years. PSAF opts for those regattas where minimum expenses are to be incurred, he said.
The PSAF official categorically stated that no official would accompany the sailors abroad. Optimist class is the only exception.
Meanwhile, the PSAF has selected eight of the total 12 classes for participation at the Asian Games.
The classes are 470 (M), Laser Standard, Laser Radial, Mistral Heavy (M), Hobie Cat, Match Racing, Optimist (Boys) and Optimist (Girls).
The four other classes were 470 (W), Mistral Light, Laser (W) and 420 (youth).
Meanwhile, Pakistan would face an uphill task at the next year’s Qatar Asian Games sailing Regatta after their favourite Enterprise class omitted from the competition.
Enterprise class boat used to be Pakistan’s hallmark at the Asian Games sailing competition ever since the country clinched their first gold medal at Bangkok in 1978.
Since then, there was no stopping as Pakistan stamped their authority at the next three successive Asian Games at Delhi in 1982, at Seoul in 1986 and at Beijing in 1990 until they surrendered the title at Hiroshima four years later by securing silver.
Pakistan retained their silver at the 1998 Bangkok Games and at the 2004 Busan Asian Games.
In addition to the Enterprise, Pakistan has secured medals in three other classes as well - OK Dinghy in 1982 (gold), Optimist in 1994 (bronze) and Super Moth in 1998 (bronze)
Altogether, Pakistan had earned ten medals- five-gold, three-silver and two-bronze in the last seven Asian Games.
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