ISLAMABAD: With just nine days left before the start of South Asian Games, the Pakistan Sports Board (PSB) has woken up from its deep slumber and have decided to hold training camps for the ‘Games preparation.’

The PSB on Wednesday directed the sports federations through letter to hold training camps for the South Asian Games which are going to take place in Nepal from Dec 1 to 10.

The camps should have been organized at least three month ago but the PSB apparently feels that the “weeklong” camps should be enough for the national squads to participate in the regional mega event.

A senior official of PSB said that last time, before the start of 12th edition of South Asian Games held in India in 2016, the PSB had organised training camps spanning nearly a full year. The result was that the Pakistani athletes managed to win 106 medals including 12 gold in that edition.

“The one week camp is nothing but a joke. It is unfortunate,” said the PSB official while speaking on the condition of anonymity.

However, deputy director general PSB, Azam Dar said that most of the athletes received good training through the National Games. He added that volleyball camp has already started a few days ago while Taekwondo and Beach Volleyball camps started from Thursday in Islamabad. “Karate and judo camps have also started in Peshawar,” he said.

It is worth mentioning here that PSB intends to send a contingent of about 305 athletes and officials to the South Asian Games. However, the final approval is yet to be given on the summary by Prime Minister Imran Khan.

Published in Dawn, November 22nd, 2019