THE sports fraternity is waiting for more early action from Prime Minister Imran Khan to revamp the country’s sports which is like a sinking ship. This is evident from the disastrous performance of athletes in the Jakarta Asian Games where they earned mere four bronze medals.

It may be mentioned that Pakistan fetched its highest Asiad tally of 28 medals — 8-11-9 — in the same country in the 1962 Asian Games.

In his first action after assuming power, Imran, who led Pakistan cricket team to triumph in the 1992 World Cup, has nominated former ICC chief Ehsan Mani to head the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB).

Former Olympians are demanding resignation of Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) chief retired Brig Khalid Sajjad Khokhar, secretary Shahbaz Ahmed and the team management in the aftermath of the Green Shirts’ below par performance in the Games where they finished poor fourth.

The team’s dismal showing, particularly under the Dutch coach Roelant Oltmans, has sparked furore across the country as Pakistan failed to earn a direct ticket for the Olympic Games slated to take place in Tokyo in 2020.

The team will have to go through the agony of competing in the qualifying rounds for the third time in its history besides reaching a new low of missing out on the Rio Games in 2016.

It is pertinent to mention that history was created when Pakistan for the first time entered in qualifiers for the 2000 Sydney Olympics in Osaka. Pakistan finished runners-up losing 2-3 to Spain in the final and qualified.

The same exercise was repeated when Pakistan traveled to Madrid to appear in qualifiers for the 2004 Athens Olympics. Top three teams – Netherlands, Spain, Pakistan – qualified.

Pakistan directly qualified for the 2008 Beijing Olympics and 2012 London Olympics.

Pakistan’s hockey team’s dream to recapture the title was shattered by eventual champion Japan who coasted to solitary goal victory in the semi-final. Arch rivals India further dented Pakistan’s hopes to win a bronze imposing to 2-1 victory in the playoff.

By getting the better of Pakistan, arch foes India has maintained their unbeaten run over the former. This was India’s fifth victory over Pakistan in one year besides the 2-2 stalemate in this year’s Commonwealth Games in Gold Coast, Australia.

Earlier, Pakistan had suffered humiliating 1-7 and 1-6 defeats in the World Hockey League and 1-3 and 1-4 in the Dhaka Asia Cup last year.

Japan became the fourth team of the region to lay its hands over the Asian Games hockey title in the events history. Jakarta witnessed Japan’s meteoric rise as they overcome fighting Malaysia 3-1 in the shootout after being tied six-all in regulation time.

South Korea ended Indo-Pak domination by crowning champions on its home soil in Seoul Asian Games in 1986. They had chalked up 2-1 victory over Pakistan in the title clash.

The Asian Games results present a sad picture as far as Pakistan is concerned. Approximately, a 350-member contingent had gone on sojourn and besides the medal-winning athletes all others returned empty handed.

The four bronze medals came through the efforts of Arshad Nadeem (javelin throw), Nargis (women’s +68kg karate), kabaddi and men’s squash team event.

The Pakistan Sports Board (PSB) has become a white elephant and needs a strict administrator like the late Brig Rodham to clean up the mess, corrupt practices and revive the sports culture.

Imran should also send a soft message to the Pakistan Olympic Association (POA) retired Lt. Gen Arif Hasan to step down at the end of ongoing fourth straight term in 2020.

The POA and all its affiliated units have virtually failed to deliver and stretching their run in power.

The masses are expecting that being a former sportsman himself, Imran will intervene in the matter soon and bring about a positive change under his vision of a ‘new Pakistan’.

Published in Dawn, September 5th, 2018