No backers for ju-jitsu dreams

Scant sponsors scupper Huraira, Ammar's hopes

KARACHI: Pakistan's top ju-jitsu practitioners Abu Huraira and Muhammad Ammar will miss out on the Asian Championship due to a lack of sponsors.

Ammar and Huraira, who made history earlier this month by becoming the first Pakistani players to ever compete at the World Games, have so far had impressive careers, winning titles at the Asian Beach Games and bagging silver at the 2015 World Championships' duo system event.

They were again expected to challenge for honours on their now-cancelled trip, had they been able to make it.

"This would have been a confirmed gold medal for us, but the event has started without us," Ammar told The Express Tribune. "It is disappointing because we are in good form, we've just competed at the World Games in Poland and it just breaks our heart that we can't go simply because there aren't enough sponsors to put money into our game. The federation is trying to do all it can, but sometimes the luck just isn't on your side."

The disappointment of missing out has Ammar pondering what exactly they've done wrong to not get to even participate.

"We train as hard as we can and also get the results but end up missing out on such an event because of external factors," he said. "I hope someday that will change."

With the Asian Championship ship having sailed, the duo has set their sights on Asian Indoor Games.

"Now that we aren't going to the Asian Games, my personal target is to have enough resources for the Asian Indoor games coming up next month," said Ammar.

Meanwhile, Pakistan Ju-Jitsu Federation (PJJF) chief Khalil Ahmed Khan revealed that the contingent of 16 players was finalised for the event but the Pakistan Sports Board did not give the NOC.

"The PSB didn't give us the NOC," said Khalil. "It seems the authorities aren't serious about our sports. It is because of this that we are missing out on a major event. It is very disappointing because this was the time to gauge which players we could've used in the Asian Indoor Martial Arts Games."