The last week, the Pakistan Olympic Association (POA) held a gathering of sports people in Lahore to discuss a strategy to improve the standards of games, which are in decline. Legendary players such as former world squash champion Jehangir Khan, hockey Olympians Islahuddin and Naveed Alam, Federal Sports Minister Riaz Pirzada, Federal Sports Secretary Ijaz Chaudhry, Pakistan Sports Board Director General Akhtar Nawaz Ganjera and presidents and secretaries of 38 federations attended the meeting. Though the minister left the venue soon after delivering a short speech, the federal sports secretary faced questions by the representatives of sports federations. POA President retired Lt-Gen Arif Hasan, who organised the event, gave a comprehensive presentation to audience. His recommendations can help the government and sports community promote sports standards in the country.

Jahangir and Islahuddin also spoke and presented suggestions for the betterment of sports. Some tough questions were put up by the officials of the national sports federations, which the secretary failed to respond. As the secretary will retire next week, he praised the presentation. What will be the reaction of his successor to the suggestions?

Provincial Sports Minister Rana Mashood did not attend the function, even though he was invited to the function.

In fact, Rana Mashood has set up his own empire in the province as his ministry gets sufficient funds from the government to run its affairs without any support of the federal government.

Chromatex Chemicals is organising the third Shahjehan Latif Memorial Table Tennis Tournament at Chroma Table Tennis Club, Thokar Niaz Baig, the next week. Shahjehan was a former national table tennis coach and player. He died in a road accident some three years back. Since his death, the Chromatex, which has organised several table tennis tournaments at its venue, announced holding the annual event in the memory of Shahjehan. As a coach and player, Shahjehan served the game for more than 40 years and produced many international players.

The organisers expect 100 men and women players from different cities.

The Punjab Olympic Association (PbOA) has delayed the 6th edition of the Lahore Inter-School and Inter-Collegiate Sports till November 9. The event was earlier to be held on October 9.

PbOA Secretary Khawaja Idrees says the event was delayed for no sponsorship could be achieved. He says now funds have been arranged and the event will be held smoothly the next month. Undoubtedly, the event has injected a great deal of interest regarding sports in private schools and colleges, while government schools have shown a lackluster response to the event. Many private schools have recruited coaches to field tough teams.

Around 500 boys and girls are expected to compete in different sports of the event.

Ashort training camp attended by the entire Pakistan A cricket team and four cricketers of the Pakistan Test team concluded in Lahore the last week. The camp was set up to train A team for the upcoming two One-day matches to be played against England cricket team in the UAE on October 5 and 7. Four Test cricketers, who also attended the camp were: Misbahul Haq, Younus Khan, Zulifqar Babar and Junaid Khan. They have left Lahore for the UAE.

Published in Dawn October 4th, 2015

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