I AM a squash player from Sindh. The national games provide opportunities to players like us to show their skills and get rewards.

To actively participate in national games is a dream of every athlete. The role of national and provincial sports bodies is important in this regard.

Similarly, the Pakistan Olympics Association (POA) and provincial Olympics associations act as regulators and manage the participation of athletes in the games.

Recently, the Sindh Olympics Association (SOA) denied me an opportunity to participate in the national games despite the fact that I am registered with the Sindh Squash Association (SSA) which is affiliated with SOA and recognised by it. The SSA headed by Jahangir Khan is not a legal body.

Yet, SOA selected players from the parallel SSA for its contingent from Sindh for the national games held in Peshawar. As per rules, the SOA was supposed to select squash players from its affiliated SSA. This action is a question mark on the SOA’s integrity.

I request POA President Lt Gen S. Arif Hassan, POA Secretary General Khalid Mahmood, the General Council of the POA, and the managing committee of the 33rd National Games to take strict action on this issue. The Sindh chief minister should also order a probe in the matter.

Suleman Khan

Karachi

Published in Dawn, November 20th, 2019