September 04, 2008	Thursday	Ramazan 3, 1429

ISLAMABAD, Sept 3: The sub-committee of the Senate Standing Committee on sports will review the performance of Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) and Pakistan Olympic Association (POA) in a meeting on Thursday, said an official announcement.

An official of POA told Dawn on Wednesday that POA President Syed Arif Hasan, Vice President (VP) Mohammad Yaqoob, Associate Secretary Mohammad Yayha and Syed Aqil Shah will represent the organisation in the meeting and they would give their input and suggestions for improvement of sports in the country.

“We have received a letter from the Senate sub-committee on Sports just a day earlier but we are ready to give our side of factual story” said the official.

Pakistan participated in the Beijing Olympic Games held last month in four disciplines — hockey, shooting, athletics and swimming.

A 35-member Pakistan contingent, including 14 officials, participated in the Beijing Olympics and returned home without any medal disappointing the nation.

Pakistan only qualified for hockey in the Beijing Olympic Games and participated in three other disciplines, Athletics, shooting, swimming, on wild card entries..

Meanwhile, PHF officials who earlier failed to turn up for the sub-committee meeting on Monday will also appear in Thursday’s meeting. _Asif Bajwa, Secretary PHF, said that he would represent federation in the committee meeting.

Olympian Bajwa said “PHF will inform the committee about the reasons which led to the debacle of the hockey squad in the Olympic Games and the future plans of the federation for the development and revival of the game in the country”.

The hockey squad was Pakistan’s only medal hope which also failed to put up a good performance in Beijing.

Three times Olympic champions, Pakistan, finished eighth as they went down against New Zealand, their worst ever showing in 15 appearances at the Olympics.