Pak sports community mourns Asif Azeem

Pakistan sports community lost one of the most sincere and genuine of its members, Asif Azeem in the wee hours of Friday, May 23 in Karachi.

The 53-year-old President of President Softball Federation of Pakistan left behind his wife, three sons, and a daughter among the bereaved.

The Pakistan Olympic Association (POA) released a statement of condolence as well, acknowledging the positive impact that Azeem made on sports, athletes, and institutional levels during his career as a media director and softball official throughout his professional life.

"Mr. Arif Saeed, President, POA, and the entire Olympic Family of Pakistan are deeply grieved by the demise of Mr. Asif Azeem, President Softball Federation of Pakistan," The POA statement read. "He will always be remembered for his outstanding contribution to the sports of Softball in Pakistan and International level as well as for the Olympic Movement in Pakistan. The President POA and all the Olympic Family of Pakistan express their grief and sorrow to the bereaved family."

Azeem was also serving as the Director of Media Sports DMC South of Karachi.

"He was very hard-working," Azeem's long-time friend and the Sports Editor of The Express Tribune Rishad Mahmood added. "He played a key role in popularising the softball game when it was introduced in Pakistan. He was also the media director of POA, and he has worked closely with Special Olympics Pakistan for several years as a media attaché at international and local events. He was also the media person for the Pakistan Blind cricket team. He was one of the few genuine people with a clean character that one could find in not only the field of sports but in any field. He will be missed greatly."