Yearning for recognition: Deaf ears, blind eyes, cold shoulder for ju-jitsu athletes

Despite their success in international competitions, the PSB does little for them


Natasha Raheel December 01, 2014

KARACHI: One of the best martial artists in the country, 23-year-old Sundas Salam Khan is at the peak of her powers, but for all her success and international recognition, she is left disappointed at being constantly ignored back home.

Sundas, one of the most successful athletes to wear Pakistan colours at the Asian Beach Games in Thailand, won two silver medals in ju-jitsu but as far as the Pakistan Sports Board (PSB) is concerned, she might as well have not done it.

She bagged the first silver in the women’s duo event with Lahore-based athlete Maryam, and went on to claim a second with mixed duo partner Muhammad Ammar last month.

However, Sundas, who recently got married, feels that despite her success and young age, she has been forced to contemplate giving up the sport she loves as authorities continue to ignore it.

“It’s disappointing,” said Sundas, while talking to The Express Tribune. “Really, what more can I do for my country? My husband questions me; he asks me what all that effort to win was for if in the end I have to beg the authorities for their support. It’s embarrassing and heart-breaking. My husband is proud of me, but winning the medal almost feels like an embarrassment now. Is this all Pakistan has to offer to its female athletes?”

Sundas also won three medals at the Asian Championships but feels that it is hard for women in Pakistan to pursue careers in sports primarily due to the lack of appreciation or monetary reward.

“Standing there on the podium, above everyone else with your country’s flag on your shoulder, is a priceless feeling, but the authorities need to do more,” said Sundas. “The PSB has no policy of rewarding those who win medals at the beach games. They did announce rewards off between Rs1 million and Rs3 million for the Asian Games medallists, but we won five medals at the beach games and what did we get? Nothing.”

The PSB Director National Federations, Muhammad Azam Dar, admitted that there is no policy for the cash rewards for the Asian Beach Games and added that the policy needs improvement.

“The PSB director-general can only work according to the policy,” said Dar. “There is always room for improvement. We appreciate ju-jitsu players and their efforts. So yes, it’s something that needs to be addressed. But so far there is no policy for the beach games as the achievements of these players are unprecedented.”

Sundas’ plight is not an isolated one though and despite winning half of Pakistan’s 10 medals at the beach games, Pakistan’s prolific ju-jitsu athletes continue to feel hard done by the PSB.

Twenty-four-year-old Abu Hurraira considers defending his title at the duo men’s competition in the Asian Beach Games as one of the proudest moments of his life, earning him considerable international acclaim. But back home, just like Sundas, the martial artist is ignored and overlooked.

Despite his young age, it was Hurraira’s sixth international medal. He has been a professional player since the age of 14 but in his 10-year career, he feels he has never received a warm welcome from the PSB.

“I won four gold and two silver medals at the Asian Championships. But now with the way we are being treated, I feel as if I did not win the medal but rather stole it,” said Hurraira, who has to train students PE at different schools in Karachi in order to make ends meet. “I have given this sport my all but I still somehow manage to remain invisible to the government and the PSB.”

These athletes, men and women alike, are following the call of their passion and have been making the country proud with their effort. That they have almost nothing to show for it is nothing less than a disgrace. If ju-jitsu has to have a future in the country, something must be done soon.

 

 

 

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