POA-backed Raheela Kashif, Ayesha Iqbal and Asim Qureshi were the first ones to depart for Korea.
“They left on Tuesday morning from Sialkot to Dubai, from where they will fly to Bangkok,” Pakistan Table Tennis Federation Secretary Kifayatullah Khan told The Express Tribune.
The second squad is also supported by the POA and consists of Muhammad Rameez Khan and head coach Irfanullah Khan, who will leave on September 21 as they are currently in India for the Asian Junior Table Tennis event and will return to Pakistan on September 20.
The third and final squad, sponsored by the PSB, will leave on September 25 and includes Shahid Baloch, Shabnum Bilal and Saleem Abbas.
It has been learnt that the POA-backed side has not been provided any kitbag, shoes and other equipment. The three players were running from pillar to post to get the required gear on Monday.
“We had been requesting them since the morning to provide us the necessary things, but no one is paying any heed,” said one of the players. “It’s the POA’s responsibility to make all the arrangements, but nobody from the body is helping us.”
Meanwhile, the PSB-sanctioned squad is being provided with all necessary equipment.
Another player from the first squad said, “The POA has yet to provide us uniforms, shoes and everything else. What will we do during the opening ceremony? It will be a very embarrassing situation for us and our country if we are not properly dressed.”
The national table tennis squad has its first match scheduled for September 27.
Published in The Express Tribune, September 17th, 2014.
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