KARACHI: Italy’s Consul General in Karachi, Dr. Gianluca Rubagotti, has said that Pakistan have tremendous sports talent and it should be tapped and groomed to bring laurels for the country.

Rubagotti was speaking to captain of Pakistan’s junior baseball team, Shiraz Asif who called on him at the Italian Consulate here on Thursday. Shiraz was specially invited for the meeting by the Italian Consul.

Rubagotti added that the inclusion of baseball in the Tokyo Olympics 2020 augurs well for some 65 million baseball and softball players around the world and praised Shiraz for attaining expertise in baseball at such a young age.

The Italian diplomat assured that he would play his role in arranging a Pakistan-Italy baseball series in future. He also lauded the role of Syed Khawar Shah, president of the Federation of Pakistan Baseball, for the promotion of the game in the country.

Later, the Consul presented a special award to Shiraz.

Published in Dawn, September 23rd, 2016