Ignored gold

Athletes’ faces shone with hope when Imran rose to power but reality struck them when funding for federations was cut

Pakistan is always touted as the country which has the potential to produce world’s best athletes in all sports. And it is not said without evidence. Pakistan has already gifted to the world some of the best talent in cricket, squash and field hockey. However, except cricket, no sport and athlete has been able to survive in the country. Every rise has seen a fall. All stars faded without receiving recognition. All actually is doom and gloom if you are an athlete of any sport other than cricket in this country. The best example is that the 1992 World Cup winning captain, Imran Khan, is the Prime Minister of the country at the moment, but how many hockey Olympians can think of such as rise? Well this is not to discredit his personal effort over the course of his long political journey.

With the context clearly set, let us for a moment consider the case of cueist Muhammad Asif, who recently won his second world snooker championship title. The Faisalabad-born cueist won his first title in 2012, but never received the promised Rs10 million which is given to the athletes of Pakistan who display outstanding performance for the country. If it was for the government, the cueist would have discarded hope and disappeared, but his grit saw him conquer the world once again, and for whom? For Pakistan.

Pakistan athletes’ faces shone with hope when Imran Khan rose to power to become the premier of the country. Every athlete of every sport was hopeful that Imran Khan will lend an ear to their problems and help them reach the epitome of excellence. However, the reality struck them hard when funding for federations was cut under the banner of austerity measures. Asif, on his arrival in Karachi, said that “he only needs the government’s support” to win more laurels for Pakistan. His words encompass the feelings of thousands of athletes who have done a lot for Pakistan, but without a bat and ball in hand.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 12^th, 2019.

Like Opinion & Editorial on Facebook, follow @ETOpEd on Twitter to receive all updates on all our daily pieces.