Women’s netball axed from Sindh Games

Only men’s event could be held with available funds, says official.

KARACHI: The Sindh Olympic Association (SOA) has scrapped women’s netball from the Sindh Games starting from April 1 in Mirpurkhas.

Lack of funds, according to the SOA, was the reason behind the snub which forced the Pakistan Netball Federation (PNF) to lodge a complaint with the Pakistan Olympic Association. According to the PNF Secretary Mudassir Arain, the women’s event in the provincial games was excluded without any explanation and that it was unfair and disappointing for the athletes who won a silver medal for Sindh in last year’s National Games.

“It’s blatant discrimination, this is the first time in a decade that the women’s event won’t be part of the Sindh Games,” Arain told The Express Tribune. “Our national team has seven players from Sindh. These women have worked hard for the sport and even won a bronze medal in the South Asian Beach Games last year.

“It’s unfair if they can’t participate in the provincial games that provide a platform to these players to improve their skills and get the nod for national reckoning.”

Arain added that the SOA officials receive at least Rs1.5 million each year to hold Sindh Games which should be enough to cater for important events.

Meanwhile, SOA Secretary Ahmed Ali Rajput cited lack of funds as the reason behind the snub, arguing that with the grant the association had received, only the men’s netball event could be accommodated in the Games. The decision, according to Rajput, can be overturned only if the Sindh Sports Ministry agrees to increase the budget from Rs1.5 million to Rs2 million.

National team captain Qudsia Raja also termed the snub disappointing before adding that it was a platform for women from interior Sindh to show their skills.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 3^rd, 2012.