Judo federation cancels training camp

Officials irked after interior ministry denies entry to Iranian coach.

KARACHI:

The Pakistan Judo Federation (PJF) has been forced to cancel the national training camp after the interior ministry declined entry to its Iranian coach Sajjad Kazmi.

The PJF hired the services of Kazmi, who signed a two-year contract with Pakistan, to prepare the team for the South Asian Games that will take place in India in December. The Pakistan Sports Board (PSB) also approved the federation’s move but the interior ministry’s refusal to allow the Iranian entry has surprised PJF Secretary Masood Ahmed.

“The ministry has refused to process Kazmi’s documents without giving an explanation,” Ahmed told The Express Tribune. “The appointment was made after the PSB’s approval so the refusal was uncalled for.

“We needed Kazmi to train players at the camp since we want to restructure our programme before the Games. A coach will need seven to eight months to get used to the conditions and this development will hamper our chances.”

Meanwhile, the refusal is due to security concerns, said an interior ministry official.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 6^th, 2012.