February 16, 2007	Friday	Muharram 27, 1428

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KARACHI, Feb 15: The managing committee of the Pakistan Sailing Federation (PSAF) meets in the city on Saturday to discuss the Doha Asian Games debacle besides chalking out ways and means for the promotion of sport.

Pakistan, once considered a force to be reckoned with particularly in Enterprise class in Asia, returned without a medal for the first time since 1978.

Non inclusion of Enterprise in the games regatta may be one of the factors but on the whole, the sailors lacked strenuous preparations that were required to meet the challenge.

To be chaired by PSAF president, vice admiral S. V. Naqvi, the meeting – first of the year – will take the stock into account and prepare future strategy to again bring the sport at par with Japan, China, Singapore and Korea.

Pakistan focussed on Team Racing but the quartet comprising Abdul Hameed, Aamir Nawaz, Mamoon Sadiq and Zahid Rauf finished a dismal sixth as Singapore clinched the gold.

The pair of Xerxes Avari – Mehboob finished at the bottom among eight contestants in 470 (Men) with 72 penalty points.

Similarly, Ghazal Mir Masood finished last but one in Optimist (girls) while Abdur Rehman settled for last place in Optimist (Men).

Mohammad Yousuf had to be content with ninth position in Laser Radial Open while Ashfaq Iqbal also took ninth spot in Laser Standard.

Sabahatullah Babar secured last place among eight participants in Laser 4.7 Open to complete Pakistan’s poor showing.