LAHORE, Dec 2: Pakistan Olympic Association (POA) president Lt Gen (retd) Arif Hasan has expressed disappointment over Pakistan Sports Board’s (PSB) refusal to allow the Pakistan Swimming Federation (PSF) to conduct its International Olympic Solidarity Committee level-2 coaching clinic at PSB’s offices in Islamabad.

The seven-day clinic concluded at the Islamabad Club on Sunday.

“The POA and the PSF believe that an attempt was made to damage not just the programme but prestige of the federation through denying it critical and promised lodgings.

“Such arbitrary, disruptive and damaging action in no way complies with PSB’s mandate, which is to promote and improve the nation’s sporting fortunes through providing facilitation to federations in training of coaches, players and to work alongside all sports organisers to raise the level of performance,” Gen Hasan said in a statement.

He said that performance of the PSF has been impressive since it has bettered five national records in the recently-concluded ninth Asian Swimming Championships besides being chief medal winners in regional big shows such as the South Asian Games.

“Doesn’t this performance by the PSF and our swimmers deserve plaudits and support? Our swimmers are performing well against a massive tide of deprivation such as the following:

(1)We’re not a swimming nation by any yardstick. (2) We perhaps have the least number of swimming pools. (3) Despite remaining unsupported by the state and the private sponsors, Pakistani swimmers have improved their performance,” said the POA president, adding that the IOC course is the most important undertaking for the future of Pakistani swimmers.

“The seven-day coaching clinic that commenced on Nov 26 and concluded on Dec 2 was meant to upgrade expertise of over 50 swimming coaches from all over Pakistan,” he added.

It is pertinent to mention that like many other sports federations, the swimming federation is also facing wrath of the Inter-provincial Sports Ministry for not supporting its candidate in the last POA elections held in February this year.