KARACHI: The newly-elected Secretary General of Pakistan Softball Federation (SFP), Asif Azeem has said that his organization will make all out efforts to promote the game of softball in Pakistan and abroad and will arrange training courses for the players, coaches and the umpires to enhance their abilities and knowledge of the game.

Talking to media here recently, Asif said it is his primary goal to engage top softball officials of the world including International Softball Federation’s president Dale McMann and Secretary General Dato Low Beng Choo to play their role in boosting Pakistan softball.

Besides, he said, Pakistan Olympic Association president Gen Arif Hasan will also be requested for every assistance in support of the SFP activities during the coming months which will ensure better exposure and grooming of local softball players.

Asif observed that regular softball contests between Pakistan, India, Iran, Iraq and other Asian and Middle Eastern nations could help players of this region to improve their game upto the international level.

He said the first priority of SFP at the moment is to raise a top class team for next year’s Women’s Softball World Cup in Canada for which a series of tournaments will be organized in schools, colleges and the universities. “Besides these, district and provincial level matches will be held to put together a pool of 40 skillful and prolific players for the July 2016 Women’s World Cup,” he said.

“We at SFP will then invite top coaches from abroad to train the 40 selected players from which a best squad of women players will represent the country in Canada.”

Asif expressed resolve that measures to raise the standard and infrastructure of the game will be made on war footing and added that the day is not far when softball will become a medal-winning sport for Pakistan at the international events.

Published in Dawn, September 20th, 2015

On a mobile phone? Get the Dawn Mobile App: Apple Store | Google Play