ISLAMABAD: Two student-athletes from Pakistan allegedly went missing in Germany during the FISU World University Games, prompting the Pakistan Sports Board (PSB) to form an inquiry committee to investigate what it described as “serious irregularities,” including the disappearance of athletes and questionable team selections.

The international multi-sport event, held from July 16 to 27 in the Rhine-Ruhr region of Germany, concluded on Sunday. Pakistan failed to win any medals, and the performance of its contingent raised concerns among officials, especially in light of the substantial public funding allocated for participation.

Despite the poor outcome, at least four officials from the Higher Education Commission (HEC) were part of the touring delegation, alongside 25 student-athletes. According to the PSB, 42 student-athletes and 16 officials were issued No Objection Certificates (NOCs) to participate in the event, although only 39 individuals eventually traveled to Germany — including all four HEC officials.

The HEC, the regulatory body for universities in Pakistan, has come under fire for sending senior staff abroad at a time when public universities are grappling with financial crises. Notably, Islamabad’s Quaid-i-Azam University, one of the country’s top-ranked institutions, is currently struggling to disburse staff salaries.

In a press release issued on Sunday, the PSB confirmed the formation of a three-member committee to probe the matter. Headed by Director PSB Lahore Noor-us-Sabah, the committee includes Nasrullah Rana and Saif-ur-Rehman Rao as members. It has been directed to submit a comprehensive report within 15 days.

The PSB noted that the Pakistani contingent’s participation in the Games revealed “significant administrative failures,” including lack of transparency in team official selections, disciplinary lapses, logistical mismanagement, and the disappearance of two athletes.

“All team officials, except for one coach, were HEC officers or affiliated university personnel, raising serious concerns about the merit and fairness of the selection process,” the press release stated.

Further embarrassments included the disqualification of Pakistan’s women’s 4x400m relay team and a judo athlete who competed without proper coaching support or an official uniform.

The inquiry committee has been tas­k­ed with reviewing the entire selection process, assessing the justification for each official’s inclusion, and identifying accountability for negligence or misconduct. The committee will also investigate the circumstances surrounding the disappearance of the two student-athletes and will construct a timeline to determine whether any individuals were responsible for dereliction of duty.

The terms of reference also include an inquiry into why the women’s relay team was disqualified and why the judo athlete was allowed to compete without appropriate attire or coaching support. Recommendations for disciplinary action against those found guilty of mismanagement or negligence will be included in the final report.

When contacted, a member of the HEC delegation currently in Germany confirmed to Dawn that efforts were under way to locate the missing students. He defended the team’s composition, saying selections were made “purely on merit.”

“To date, Pakistan has never secured a medal in these university-level Games since 1973, but the athletes have shown improvement in their personal performances,” he said.

Clarifying funding arrangements, the official stated that out of the 25 athletes, six were funded by their respective universities and two received scholarships from the FISU World University Games. Among the 14 officials, one was supported through a FISU scholarship and three were financed by their universities. The remaining 19 students and nine officials were sponsored by HEC, he added.

Published in Dawn, July 28th, 2025