Rowers fail to paddle to London 2012

Dejected federation remains positive despite Olympics setback.

KARACHI: Pakistan failed to seal its berth at the rowing event of the London Olympics after the national team’s failure at the Asian qualifying regatta in South Korea.

Three rowers – seasoned Mohammad Akram, Asim Aijaz and Waliullah Khan – took part in the three-day event in Chungju, which offered four Olympic places to the top finishers in the doubles events and the top-six in individual competitions.

However, Pakistan’s Waliullah, who participated in the men’s singles sculls, finished 11th among 20 contestants. Similarly, Akram and Aijaz also finished 11th at the doubles sculls event, extending Pakistan’s absence in the rowing competition since the 2000 Sydney Olympics.

Despite the setback, the Pakistan Rowing Federation (PRF) Secretary Rizwanul Haq decided against applying for a wild-card.

“We’ll have to wait for four more years,” Haq told The Express Tribune. “We won’t apply for the wild-card entry although there are chances of getting it. The PRF believes that rowers should go for Olympics through the qualifying process.”

Published in The Express Tribune, May 1^st, 2012.