After incepting in Pakistan's sporting arena in 1980, rowing has helped the country augment its medals tally at several international competitions. -File Photo

ISLAMABAD: While rowing, a quietly progressive sport for Pakistan, has remained without appropriate boats for almost three decades.

 The country also missed a medal-winning chance in the Guangzhou Asian Games, mainly due to the treatment meted out by the Pakistan Sports Board (PSB) to the water sport, Dawn has learnt.

According to a source in the PSB, Pakistan missed a big chance to clinch a medal in rowing at the Guangzhou Asian Games primarily due to the trivial 'administrative' and 'clerical' concerns raised by the board between 2007 and 2010.

“We missed an opportunity to win a medal in the 2010 Asian Games because both the PSB and Pakistan Rowing Federation (PRF) had serious differences over petty matters,” the PSB source revealed on Thursday.

“The PRF has remained defunct for almost two years which, besides damaging credibility of the federation at the global level, spoiled the name of the country in the international rowing fraternity.”

The source added that on several occasions the PSB was informed by the PRF officials that “a defunct status (of the PRF) was causing huge damage to the sport at the grass roots level but the board officials never paid heed to those concerns.”

Rowing, which is one of the key water sports, has also been included in the upcoming National Games.

Rizwan-ul-Haq, secretary general of the PRF, said: “Pakistan had first won a gold medal way back in 1994 at the Asian Central Zone Rowing Championship.

“After the 1994 gold medal win, Mohammad Akram clinched Pakistan's first Asian Games bronze. Akram, one of the best rowers, helped the country win two bronze medals at the 1998 Asian Games in Bangkok.

“Later, the rowers clinched a silver medal in the Asian Rowing Championship held in China in 1999. At the 2002 Busan Asian Games, Akram again led Pakistan to a bronze medal.”

Rizwan, also a former national champion, added: “A lot of damage has been done to rowing. However, now we are focusing to get a few rowing boats which will cost us around Rs12 million.”

He claimed that modern rowing boats would help them ensure a berth for the 2012 London Olympics.

The PRF official also informed that almost 400 professional rowers were featuring at different levels in the sport while almost 4000 non-regular rowers were registered with several clubs and associations across Pakistan.

“We are also looking for a foreign coach and his presence will definitely raise the standard of the sport,” he added.

Meanwhile, a senior Sports Ministry official, when approached, assured that concerns raised by the PRF secretary would be addressed.

“We will definitely look into the concerns raised by the PRF officials and will try to arrange the rowing boats for the national rowers as early as possible,” the Sports Ministry official stated.