ISLAMABAD, May 20: The SAF Games Organising Committee (SGOC) spent a whopping Rs 33.606 million on the training of teams and officials, according to figures released on Tuesday.

The lion’s share of Rs 10.768m went to the athletics federation for purchase of equipment and training while Rs 3.932 million was spent on the training of boxers.

The chairman of the SGOC, Lt. Gen Syed Arif Hasan generously supported a number of teams for training tours abroad while also releasing money for training of technical officials and coaches at home.

The SGOC which continues to generate money through its Hero Card scheme, also donated a cool Rs 10 million to the Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) that has been tight on cash ever since sponsors PIA withdrew their support some years ago.

A donation of Rs 5 million was also made to the Pakistan Amateur Boxing Federation (PABF) which has produced good results in recent years, especially boxer Meharullah, who did everyone proud by winning the country’s only gold medal at last year’s Asian Games.

Although the SAF Games that were to take place in Islamabad in March had to be cancelled after three postponements, the SGOC did what it could to help teams and officials in preparing for the regional event which has now been allotted to Sri Lanka.

The following is the breakup of figures:

Weightlifting training (Rs 4.707m), taekwondo (Rs 0.717m), training of volleyball officials (Rs 1.212m), kabaddi (Rs 0.15m), karate (Rs 1.66m), athletics (Rs10.768m), badminton (Rs 1.171), squash (Rs 0.589), boxing (Rs 3.932), shooting (Rs 1.591m), table tennis (Rs 0.232m), coaches (Rs 3.612m), training of technical officials (Rs 0.305m), swimming (Rs 2.189m), others (Rs 0.765m). Donation to PHF (Rs 10m), PABF (Rs 5m).

Meanwhile a team of British High Commission officials visited the SAF Games secretariat and went around the venues at the Pakistan Sports Complex.