Rowing success paves way for concerns

Karachi Boat Club wins five medals, bags masters trophy in India.

KARACHI:

Pakistan rowers returned from Kolkata, yesterday, not just with the satisfaction of having competed against stronger nations in the 70th Amateur Rowing Club Regatta of the East, but also two gold, two silver, one bronze medal and the masters trophy.

Pakistan were represented by the Karachi Boat Club (KBC) at the event, which also saw clubs from India, Sri Lanka, the UAE, Philippines, Hong Kong and Singapore taking part. A senior member of the KBC contingent, Arif Ikram, said that the performance of the club had been commendable considering the level of competition that was on display and the fact that a visa delay meant they arrived at the event after it had already started.

“We encountered a really high standard of competition at the regatta,” Ikram told The Express Tribune. “Most of the Indian clubs had really good rowers, including an Asian single sculls gold medallist. Considering the level of competition, I think our rowers performed really well, especially Asif Adam Ali, Khurram Khawaja and Meherdil Khan.”

KBC won the gold in the fours plus and the pairs category, as well as clinching the silver and the bronze medals in the double sculls event. The female contingent, on the other hand, bagged a bronze at the women fours plus event.

Despite the good show, Ikram felt that a lot more needed to be done to promote the sport in Pakistan. “The government needs to provide tax waivers for the highly expensive rowing equipment, at least for those clubs that represent Pakistan internationally and perform well. Otherwise, rowing will remain a sport meant only for the elite.”

Published in The Express Tribune, January 13^th, 2012.