‘Paralympians can inspire other athletes’

Athletics federation official shares plans of merging bodies.

KARACHI:

The Athletics Federation of Pakistan (AFP) is planning to hold talks with their Paralympics counterparts in order to take control of the body after the London Paralympics.

Haider Ali and Naeem Masiah will represent Pakistan in the mega event starting this week.

“We intend to take these athletes under our supervision and will hold a meeting with the Paralympics officials for that matter,” a senior AFP official told The Express Tribune. “Physically challenged individuals are very hard-working and can inspire our other athletes to put in an extra effort and achieve glory for the country.”

Haider, who won a silver medal in Beijing, suffers from cerebral palsy while for Masiah, this will be the first time at the global event.

Haider will be taking part in long jump, 100m and 200m races while Masiah would run in 800m and 1,500m. The two athletes, along with their support staff, have already reached London for the training camp arranged at the University of Bedfordshire.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 26^th, 2012.