A real chief would have found a way to lift spirits and unify the squad instead of becoming a reason for acrimony.
SARGODHA: This is with reference to the article “Weightlifters end protest after flag snub” (October 5). Leave it to a Pakistani political appointee to abuse the power of his office, to deprive a young national hero of perhaps the biggest honour of his sporting life: to carry his nation’s flag, with millions of people watching. What’s next, accepting any medals won by our athletes on their behalf? Surely there is no rigid rule limiting acceptance of a medal only by the rightful recipient of such honour, the athlete that is. The fact is that a real chief of the squad would have found a way to lift spirits and unify the squad instead of becoming a reason for contention and acrimony.
For, the CWG or the Olympics or any such event is about the athletes. It’s their stage, their time and their moment to shine and receive honours and laurels. But this is just the microcosm of the political and social realities in Pakistan. Truly shameful.
Kamran Ashraf
Published in The Express Tribune October 6th, 2010.
