Federations shocked by budget cuts
KARACHI:
Pakistan’s sports fraternity has expressed disappointment on the drastic cut in the budget for the development of sports with top officials believing that the decision would harm sports in the country which is already in a declining state.
The federal government announced a 60 per cent reduction in the sports budget due to recession and allocated Rs229.65 million for its uplift as compared to Rs589 million approved last year.
As a result, officials of major sports federations and associations believe that Pakistan’s decline may continue on the international arena.
Athletes to suffer
Pakistan Olympic Association (POA) President Lieutenant-General (retd) Arif Hasan has predicted immediate repercussions and said it would affect national athletes’ performance in two major assignments later this year — the Commonwealth Games in New Delhi in October and the Asian Games taking place in China in November.
“The forthcoming assignments are tough and athletes were already striving to prepare for these events,” Hasan told The Express Tribune. “A further cut in budget would definitely affect their performance.”
He felt the reduction may also force the POA to reduce the number of athletes it sends to the events.
“I don’t see a big contingent going for the events in India and China due to lack of funds,” he said before adding that the allocated money would be spent in the right way.
Hockey woes
Pakistan always rely on hockey as its potential medal-earner game in such events but the cut in the budget is also likely to affect the national game dearly.
“It would definitely have an adverse affect on hockey as well,” said Pakistan Hockey Federation Secretary Asif Bajwa. “Sports should be encouraged but the present economic crisis due to war against terrorism may have prompted the government to take this decision.”
Boxers’ coaching needs
Pakistan Boxing Federation (PBF) Secretary Akram Khan termed the slash a huge setback and boxers preparing for the Commonwealth and Asian Games are certain to be let down. “We’re hoping for an increased budget but now it seems authorities are not interested in promoting sports,” said Khan. “Look at the Indian boxers. They’re getting top quality training in Cuba but we can’t send our boxers abroad for that due to shortage of funds.”
He also feared that the PBF was getting Rs2 million as annual grant by the POA which may be reduced due to the curtailed budget for the new year.
Similarly, squash, where Pakistan reigned for decades,is already in a disappointing state and will see a further decline, according to the Pakistan Squash Federation (PSF).
“We used to get Rs1.3 million from the POA and the PAF usually bears the expense of players featuring in international tournaments,” said PSF Secretary Irfan Asghar. “But this reduction would definitely create more problems for us.”
The Pakistan Billiards and Snooker Association (PBSA) President Alamgir Sheikh termed the decision a “disaster” for sports in Pakistan.
“The cuts would damage our sports, especially snooker, where an immense talent is present but they’re not getting international exposure due to lack of funds,” said the PBSA chief before adding that the association only gets Rs800, 000 as an annual grant and it needs to generate money through sponsors to bear its expenses.
Published in the Express Tribune, June 8th, 2010.
Pakistan’s sports fraternity has expressed disappointment on the drastic cut in the budget for the development of sports with top officials believing that the decision would harm sports in the country which is already in a declining state.
The federal government announced a 60 per cent reduction in the sports budget due to recession and allocated Rs229.65 million for its uplift as compared to Rs589 million approved last year.
As a result, officials of major sports federations and associations believe that Pakistan’s decline may continue on the international arena.
Athletes to suffer
Pakistan Olympic Association (POA) President Lieutenant-General (retd) Arif Hasan has predicted immediate repercussions and said it would affect national athletes’ performance in two major assignments later this year — the Commonwealth Games in New Delhi in October and the Asian Games taking place in China in November.
“The forthcoming assignments are tough and athletes were already striving to prepare for these events,” Hasan told The Express Tribune. “A further cut in budget would definitely affect their performance.”
He felt the reduction may also force the POA to reduce the number of athletes it sends to the events.
“I don’t see a big contingent going for the events in India and China due to lack of funds,” he said before adding that the allocated money would be spent in the right way.
Hockey woes
Pakistan always rely on hockey as its potential medal-earner game in such events but the cut in the budget is also likely to affect the national game dearly.
“It would definitely have an adverse affect on hockey as well,” said Pakistan Hockey Federation Secretary Asif Bajwa. “Sports should be encouraged but the present economic crisis due to war against terrorism may have prompted the government to take this decision.”
Boxers’ coaching needs
Pakistan Boxing Federation (PBF) Secretary Akram Khan termed the slash a huge setback and boxers preparing for the Commonwealth and Asian Games are certain to be let down. “We’re hoping for an increased budget but now it seems authorities are not interested in promoting sports,” said Khan. “Look at the Indian boxers. They’re getting top quality training in Cuba but we can’t send our boxers abroad for that due to shortage of funds.”
He also feared that the PBF was getting Rs2 million as annual grant by the POA which may be reduced due to the curtailed budget for the new year.
Similarly, squash, where Pakistan reigned for decades,is already in a disappointing state and will see a further decline, according to the Pakistan Squash Federation (PSF).
“We used to get Rs1.3 million from the POA and the PAF usually bears the expense of players featuring in international tournaments,” said PSF Secretary Irfan Asghar. “But this reduction would definitely create more problems for us.”
The Pakistan Billiards and Snooker Association (PBSA) President Alamgir Sheikh termed the decision a “disaster” for sports in Pakistan.
“The cuts would damage our sports, especially snooker, where an immense talent is present but they’re not getting international exposure due to lack of funds,” said the PBSA chief before adding that the association only gets Rs800, 000 as an annual grant and it needs to generate money through sponsors to bear its expenses.
Published in the Express Tribune, June 8th, 2010.