LAHORE, Aug 2: Twenty-five swimmers will take part in the 4th Asian junior age group championship, but on self-finance basis, as the Pakistan Amateur Swimming Federation (PASF) has no funds to even send a single swimmer on merit. Executive body member of the PASF and also president Punjab Swimming Association (PSA) Zoraiz Lashari said while addressing a press conference on Tuesday.

The competition is being held at Bangkok, Thailand from Aug 19 to 22.

Twenty-five swimmers will leave for Bangkok on Aug 16.

However, the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) will bear all expenses of the promising Ghulam Sakina and Syed Moeed Mustafa, two under-14 swimmers and coach Hafeez Bhatti, who are leaving for Bangkok late on Tuesday.

The three will attend a training course starting from Aug 4 before the two swimmers compete in the event from Aug 19 while Hafeez Bhatti will become the coach of the entire Pakistan team.

Zoraiz said that the trials were held to select 25 players after making the announcement that only those were allowed to appear, who could finance themselves.

Asked if the federation could not find any sponsor to send at least two or three swimmers on merit, he said “no” but taking credit for the Olympic Council of Asia, he added Moeed and Sakina were going on merit.

He said that each player going on self-finance would meet an expense of Rs 50,000. The PSA would also send 13-member swimming and 10-member waterpolo teams with eight officials to Indian Punjab on self-finance basis.

The team will tour Patiala, Amritsar and Ludhiana from Sept 13 to 19.