KARACHI: Pakistan Olympic Association (POA) President retired Lt Gen Arif Hasan said on Tuesday that the establishment of a softball academy is a milestone achieved by the game’s national body, Softball Federation of Pakistan (SFP), for the promotion of the sport.

Arif said that it has been a good initiative taken by the federation to hire foreign qualified coaches which will help Pakistan players not only to improve their softball skills but also their fitness, which has become pre-requisite for every outdoor contemporary sports.

“The POA will help SFP in any way it can to establish and run the academy in a befitting manner,” Arif said. “This academy will provide infrastructure for players to improve not only their game but also their fitness.”

He further said that Pakistan sportspersons are highly talented as the world recently saw when Pakistan’s wrestler Inam Butt won a gold medal during the Commonwealth Games.

“Sports infrastructure in the country is very vital for our talented players to groom themselves and eventually win laurels for the country in international arena,” said Arif. “Myself and my team at POA has been making efforts to provide good facilities for the players.”SFP Secretary Asif Azeem, during the meeting with POA chief, thanked Arif Hasan for his support. He disclosed that SFP has started the registration process for the players willing to get registered with the academy.

He added that to hire foreign qualified coaches, SFP delegation would visit Malaysia soon and would also meet World Baseball Softball Confederation (WBSC) Secretary Dato Low Beng Choo. He added that SFP has also requested Pakistan Sports Board (PSB) to guide SFP in hiring foreign qualified coaches for the academy.

Published in Dawn, June 21st, 2018