KARACHI: Veteran athlete and trainer Mohammad Talib has compiled a book that envisaged newspaper clippings, including his interviews and suggestions for the betterment of sports in the country.

In one of his interviews to Dawn, Talib, who is presently the senior most ex-international athlete, had suggested for opening of more athletic fitness schools in every nook and corner of the country.

In yet another interview to Dawn, the former 110-metre hurdler had advocated for the merger of ministries of sports and education to arrest the decline.

“When the two ministries were under one umbrella the country’s sports flourished in 60s, 70s and 80s,”he said.

It may be mentioned that he founded AFS at the Abdul Sattar Edhi Hockey Stadium (ex- Hockey Club of Pakistan) in 1977 where he still imparts free coaching to budding boys and girls at the age of 80 plus.

Since its inception, the AFS had positively contributed by produced over 4,000 athletes, including internationals, both men and women.

Encroachment of track and field by the PHF long time ago by erecting iron grills and making some portion of the floor cemented could not deter Talib from his mission.

It is on record that the then HCP Stadium had served as a venue for opening and closing ceremonies and athletic events of the National Games twice in 1970 and 1976.

“I’ve sent the book to IPC Minister for Sports Dr Fehmida Mirza, DG Pakistan Sports Board (PSB), chief ministers of four provinces, DG Army Sports Board, and the POA,” Talib told Dawn on Thursday.

He added that the IPC minister had announced to make sports compulsory in educational institutions and make two periods mandatory for healthy activities.

Published in Dawn, September 11th, 2020