PAKISTAN has been relegated five places on the overall medals table in the fifth Asian Beach Games which concluded recently in the Vietnam city of Da Nang.

Pakistan contingent, which went quietly, seized 2-3-6 medals to finish an all-time low 21st in the biennial competition which was participated by 41 nations.

Pakistan fielded athletes in seven disciplines of the games — body building, handball, kabaddi, ju-jitsu, kurash, volleyball and wrestling.

According to medals break-up, kabaddi team that comprised Arsalan Ahmed, Nasir Ali, Akhlaq Hussain, Ibrar Hussain, Mohammad Imran and Kashif Razzaq did the country proud by picking up maiden gold medal in the Games since its inception in 2008.

The second gold came in the men’s under-90kg wrestling through the efforts of Mohammad Inam.

Wrestler Nazir (under-70kg), ju-jitsu players Jahanzeb Lone (-56kg) and Ahmed Butt (+94kg) picked up silvers apiece.

Five of the six bronze came in ju-jitsu while the remaining one was bagged by the handball team. The ju-jitsu medals recipients were Amir Hamza (-69kg), M. Abid (-94kg), show system women’s duo Humaira Ashiq-Beenish Khan, Beenish Khan (-70kg), show system men/women mixed duo Maryam-Shahzeb Janjua.

This is not the first time that Pakistan featured at the Games without any preparations. The much talked about National Beach Games has failed to see light of the day.

The dates to hold the National Beach Games were announced time and again by the hosts Sindh Olympic Association (SOA) in consultation with the parent body, the Pakistan Olympic Association (POA) and postponed subsequently for one reason or the other.

Insiders say that the SOA had submitted a proposed budget of Rs20 million to the Sindh government for hosting the inaugural Beach Games but in vain.

It would have been wise that the Games form criteria for selection of the athletes for the regional event.

One feels sorry that the POA has failed to organise the National Beach Games for the last eight years and sending athletes without preparations.

Instead, some groups, who didn’t come under the POA umbrella, have been active on the front and people alleged that the one-day events held at the Sea View are mere a commercial venture.

The POA president retired Lt. Gen Syed Arif Hasan, who is enjoying fourth straight term of four years each, has not been able to organise the all-Pakistan Schools Games that he had himself promised over a decade and a half back.

Instead of blaming the government, the POA should create an effective marketing department and raise funds to keep the ball going.

Pakistan’s overall medals chart of Asian Beach Games at a glance

No Year Venue G S B Position

1st 2008 Bali(Indonesia) 2 2 3 11th

2nd 2010 Muscat(Oman) 0 4 2 15th

3rd 2012 Halyang(China) 0 1 1 13th

4th 2014 Phuket(Thailand) 2 4 4 16th

5th 2016 Da Nang(Vietnam) 2 3 6 21st

Published in Dawn October 9th, 2016