Mohammad Abbas represented Pakistan at the previous Winter Olympics. -File photo by AFP

ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan ski team have qualified for the Sochi 2014 Winter Olympics after attaining the required Federation Internationale de Ski (FIS) points having participated in events held in Europe and Asia.

The points are awarded by the FIS to a skier on technical grounds like distance and time according to which a skier has to gain less than 140 points.

Pakistani contingent, comprising three athletes and a coach, have proved their mettle in the FIS events held last month in three countries namely Italy, Turkey and Lebanon.

An official of the Ski Federation of Pakistan (SFP) said that the Pakistan ski team—Mir Nawaz, Mohammad Karim and Mohammad Abbas— have achieved the required FIS points, ensuring berth for Pakistan in the Winter Olympics scheduled to be held from Feb 7 to 23, 2014.

Mohammad Abbas, 29, represented Pakistan in the 2010 Winter Olympics for the first time by competing in men’s giant slalom held in Vancouver, Canada where he finished 79th out of 103 skiers.

However, Mir Nawaz won the silver medal during the FIS race (Slalom) held recently in Lebanon, ensuring Pakistan’s qualification for the 2014 Winter Olympics.

“With the win in Lebanon we actually got confirmation of our participation in 2014 Winter Olympics,” said Pakistan contingent’s technical delegate Wing Commander Iftikhar Bajwa while talking to Dawn.

He further said that Mir Nawaz won the much-needed points while explaining that an athlete requires less than 140 points to secure a berth in the Winter Olympics.

“We will give chance to both Mohammad Abbas and Mohammad Karim since they might get a chance to participate in three more races,” Iftikhar maintained.

He also said: “We will select the best skier amongst the three once all of them complete their five races by January 2014.”

Opinion

Editorial

New terror wave
Updated 27 Mar, 2024

New terror wave

The time has come for decisive government action against militancy.
Development costs
27 Mar, 2024

Development costs

A HEFTY escalation of 30pc in the cost of ongoing federal development schemes is one of the many decisions where the...
Aitchison controversy
Updated 27 Mar, 2024

Aitchison controversy

It is hoped that higher authorities realise that politics and nepotism have no place in schools.
Ceasefire, finally
Updated 26 Mar, 2024

Ceasefire, finally

Palestinian lives matter, and a generation of orphaned Gazan children will be looking to the world community to secure justice for them.
Afghan return
26 Mar, 2024

Afghan return

FOLLOWING a controversial first repatriation phase involving ‘illegal’ Afghan refugees last November, the...
Planes and plans
26 Mar, 2024

Planes and plans

FOR the past many years, PIA has been getting little by way of good press, mostly on account of internal...