Inam sets World Beach Games medal target

Pakistan’s premier wrestler to miss event due to knee injury

LAHORE: Commonwealth Games gold-medal winning wrestler Inam Butt, who is not part of Pakistan wrestling team for Asian Games scheduled to take place in Jakarta between August 18 and September 2, has set a new target for himself.

Inam is now eyeing World Beach Wrestling Games which will be held in Mugla, Turkey in the first week of October.

“Missing the Asian Games is a big loss for me,” Inam told Express News. “I was training hard and had high hopes of winning a medal too, but unfortunately the knee injury forced me to pull out. After a couple of days rest I will be able to start training again and will hopefully represent Pakistan in the upcoming World Beach Wrestling Championship.”

Country’s premier wrestler once again emphasised that training abroad is necessary to win international medals.

”Currently 18 wrestlers are present in the Asian Games camp. I suggested to Pakistan Sports Board (PSB) and Wrestling Federation that the money reserved on this camp should be spent on training a selected few abroad. Our methods of training are not good enough to beat well-trained opponents,” Inam explained.

Moreover, Pakistan Olympic Association (POA) president Syed Arif Hussain has confirmed that the PSB has agreed to sponsor 245 athletes and officials for the Asian Games.