August 07, 2006	Monday	Rajab 11, 1427

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LAHORE, Aug 6: Pakistan has always had fewer chances of winning medals in the South Asian Games due to less participation by women, Pakistan Olympic Association president Syed Arif Hasan said.

He was briefing journalists about the 10th edition of the Games starting in Colombo from Aug 18.

The POA president said Pakistan’s contingent of 375 players and officials would reach Colombo in two groups. The first group would leave on Aug 13 and the next on Aug 16.

He said India won 103 gold medals against Pakistan’s 38 in the last edition of the Games, held in Islamabad in 2004, due to more participation by women.

Arif expressed fear that India and the hosts Sri Lanka had better chances of winning medals due to large number of women competing in various games.

He added there was a need to improve the standard of women sports in the country.

Arif disclosed that almost all national sports federations affiliated with the POA had formed women wings to encourage female participation in sports.

"Though most of the federations formed the women wings after the deadline of March 31, the POA is now in a better position to improve the standard of women sports," he maintained.

The president expressed hope Pakistan would win the Games where Sri Lanka had the home advantage.

"A good feedback about preparation of the teams has been received and the officials are optimistic about better results," Arif said.

He claimed that performance of the national sports federations have improved after receiving financial aid from the Pakistan Sports Trust early this year.

"The POA assesses the performance of each federation and the units which will show better results will get more share in the next grant," he concluded.