LAHORE: President of the Pakistan Judo Federation (PJF) retired Col Rana Shujaat Ali said on Wednesday his federation had decided to rejoin the Pakistan Olympic Association (POA) headed by retired Lt Gen Arif Hasan.

Talking to Dawn, Col Shujaat said earlier the PJF had recognised retired Maj Gen Akram Sahi-led POA because the Pakistan Sports Board (PSB) was with him. But, Shujaat added, as the government had changed its early stance and recognised Arif Hasan as chief of genuine POA, the PJF had decided to follow suit.

To a question, the PJF chief acknowledged that the country’s sports had already suffered significantly due to the tussle between Arif- and Sahi-led POA groups.

“It is high time that serious efforts be launched by the government and as well as by the POA (Arif) to put Pakistan sports back on track,” Col Shujaat added.

The PJF is affiliated with the International Judo Federation and according to a decision of the IOC, the POA has to affiliate all those national sports federations with it, which are affiliated with their respective international bodies.

While majority of the national sports federations affiliated with their respective international bodies are already with Arif Hasan’s POA, cycling, athletics, netball and judo federations do not recognise his body.

Now the PJF is the first that has decided to rejoin Arif-led body.

To a question, Col Shujaat said it was now up to Arif’s POA to invite the PJF in the upcoming elections of the POA, which are going to be held on Nov 25 for 39 different positions, barring the post of POA president.

The PJF president suggested the POA to welcome with an open heart all those who wanted to rejoin the POA, noting it would help promote Pakistan sports which had already been facing considerable decline in recent years.

Earlier, the Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) also rejoined Arif’s POA, a move which enabled the country to take part in the Asian Games hockey event in Incheon, South Korea.

Published in Dawn, October 16th, 2014