Sahi disappointed by athletes’ poor performance
The Athletics Federation of Pakistan (AFP) President Akram Sahi was a disappointed man after a dismal show put by the country’s best athletes at the 19th Asian Athletics Championships that concluded on Sunday in Kobe, Japan.
The AFP sent five athletes including national champion Liaqat Ali, who participated in the 100-metre run. Besides Ali, Zafar Iqbal contested the high-jump event, Mohsin Ali competed in the 110-metre hurdle, Mohammad Ali took part in the 800-metre race and Rabia Ashiq participated in the women’s 500-metre run.
However, all the five athletes failed to win a medal, which left Sahi disappointed.
“My biggest disappointment has been Liaqat,” Sahi told The Express Tribune. “He got disqualified in the first heat of the 100-metre event. I’m extremely upset because he had the ability to win the championship.
“His time in the national championship was 10.1 seconds, which was better than the Chinese athlete who won the gold medal for finishing the run in 10.21 seconds.”
Sahi felt that the limited funds at the federation’s disposal made participation in the championship a challenge but the athletes lost an excellent opportunity to produce results for the country.
Published in The Express Tribune, July 13th, 2011.
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