While the provincial games are held to highlight the traditional sports of the region, the Sindh Olympic Association (SOA) seems to have missed that important point.
Sindh is home to cultural sports like malakra, wanj watti and kabaddi which, according to their respective associations, are being neglected by the SOA.
Mumtaz Shoro, president of Sindh Wanj Watti Association, said that traditional sports should be the heart of such events. The SOA, according to Shoro, has given them Rs10,000 to organise the wanj watti competition for three days and the players, belonging to a humble background, were not even provided decent equipment.
“The provincial sports need encouragement as locals gather to watch a malakra or wanj watti event and not hockey or tennis,” Shoro told The Express Tribune. “Apparently, the SOA doesn’t have any funds for us. They’ve forced us to cut down from 12 members per team to just eight. There are supposed to be eight officials but we’re down to two. It’s discouraging because all these players spend their own money just to be a part of Sindh Games.”
Sindh Malakra Association (SMA) Secretary Saran Mari said that holding traditional events at smaller venues instead of the main stadium is also putting the sport, and tradition of the province, down.
“We want people to see what sport separates us from other provinces,” said Mari. “It’s more of an identity than a sport. The SOA should make these their main focus instead of hockey, judo or karate. We need to progress and Sindh Games can provide us that platform.”
Meanwhile, a member of the SOA organising committee Mushtaq Ahmed disagreed with these associations, confirming that regional sports were given their due share and appreciation.
He added that regional sports have limited scope while disciplines like athletics and hockey had an international reach. The athletes participating in these sports can move to national squads to represent the country while that was not the same with malakra, wanj watti or kabaddi.
“I have 42 medals from Sindh Games as well as the National Games but they’re of no use, I’m still a farmer,’ said kabaddi player Hakim Ali from Sanghar.
Karachi continues domination
Karachi continued to dominate the 15th Sindh Games with 29 gold medals as Hyderabad follows them in second with 13 gold medals.
On the second day of the Games, Karachi’s wushu squad bagged five gold medals. Faisal Shah defeated Sukkur’s Muhammad Aquib in the 90 kg event while Waqas Ahmed beat Sukkur’s Ali Raza in the 80 kg competition.
Meanwhile, Karachi and Hyderabad won the men’s and women’s netball events, edging out each other in the respective finals. Karachi’s men’s defeated Hyderabad 17-15 while Hyderabad’s women’s team beat Karachi 19-16 to win gold.
Larkana’s Tahir Soomro, meanwhile, registered a new tournament record in the shot-put event with a throw of 13.12 metres, passing the previous record of 12.33 metres with ease. In the volleyball event, Karachi beat hosts Mirpurkhas in the women’s semi-final while the men’s team defeated Sukkur to qualify for the final.
Published in The Express Tribune, April 1st, 2012.
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There is also a traditional sports called flag grabbing last seen being practiced at the opening ceremony of the olympics by Dr. Shah. Although, this not a Sindhi sport, it should have been encouraged since it's a sport that many have loved to practice over the years and it has national status.