LAHORE, May 31 Head of the Pakistan Volleyball Federation (PVF) has claimed that Pakistan is currently in a position to reach the victory stand in the forthcoming 2010 Asian Games, provided the government releases the required funds at the appropriate time.

PVF president Chaudhry Mohammad Yaqoob, speaking to Dawn on Monday, said that the average height of the Pakistan team was excellent at the moment as it was 6.5 feet and the boys were well in form, too.

“I have no doubts claiming that the Pakistan team is capable enough to reach the victory stand at the Asian Games provided the Federal Ministry for Sports comes forth to assist us financially,” he said.

“The Pakistan team comprises the same junior players who claimed third position in the Asian Junior Championship and they are now well-prepared to bring about a miracle at the Asian Games,” he said.

The Asian Games are going to be held in China in November this year.

He said the Pakistan Sports Board (PSB) had been giving an annual grant of just Rs1.5 million to the PVF, which was not sufficient.

Yaqoob said that as the prime minister of Pakistan had doubled the grants for federations from the next fiscal year, he hoped every federation would receive around Rs10 million annually.

He said that the Task Force on Sports had suggested to the government to impose a tax, at least with a ratio of 10 paisa per cigarette, to generate funds for sports.

He said according to an estimate they can raise Rs6 billion through this scheme, which would be enough to bring about major success in the field of sports.

“The PVF is planning to send the team to Kazakhstan and Dubai to prepare itself before competing in the Asian Games and I hope the government will release the required funds for these tours,” he said.

He said Pakistan would compete first in the President of Kazakhstan Cup which would be held in July with top countries like Russia, Ukraine and Egypt also participating.

In October, he said, Pakistan would field the national team in the Al-Rashid Cup, which is going to be held in Dubai in October. India, Iran and China were also participating there, before featuring in the Asiad, he said.

He admitted that the PVF could not hold many competitions last year but only due to the paucity of funds.

He said the federation had hired the services of a Brazilian coach whilew also deciding to resume its club-level activities from district to national level for which, hopefully, the Asian Volleyball Confederation would also extend them financial support.