WHILE it was very heartening to see Arshad Nadeem and Talha Talib doing remarkably well at the Olympic Games, one failed to understand the role of the various officials who were part of the national contingent. What the officials are supposed to do is to facilitate the grooming process of our sportspersons. If they are short on funds, it is their job to arrange sponsorship for our potential winners. It is time we got rid of officials who are only occupying positions of responsibility, do their best to manage a free pass to this tour or that, but are no good when it comes to contributing to sports or the sportspersons.

If things do not improve on this count, Pakistan will never see sustained success. And, for a nation proud of its champions in a number of sporting disciplines, it is a rather sad scenario. If anything, we need heroes now more than ever.

Aftab Faizy Haider
Singapore

Published in Dawn, August 18th, 2021