Aminah Wali (third from right) and Ifrah Wali (second from right) – who featured in the national championship – are eagerly waiting to more international events. PHOTO: SKI FEDERATION OF PAKISTAN
KARACHI: The 2011 South Asian Winter Games skiing medalists Aminah Wali and Ifrah Wali fear that lack of international participation may hinder their chances of qualifying for the Winter Olympics 2014 that will take place in Russia.
The sisters, who won gold and silver medals in the South Asian Winter Games two years ago in India, feel that it is high time for the federation to send female athletes abroad for competing in challenging events.
Aminah, the recently crowned women skiing champion at the national championship, feels the skiers need a programme from the Ski Federation of Pakistan (SFP) in order to earn at least 140 points to qualify for the Winter Olympics next year.
“We need more events to fulfill the criteria for the Winter Olympics.” Aminah told The Express Tribune. “Ifrah and I haven’t received any programme or plan from the federation for any sporting events this year that can help us earn the required points. We are pleased with our performance in the national championship but that’s not our main goal. We wish to do more for the country and the sport because we know we have the talent to win medals. We’re looking for support on the federation’s part.”
Meanwhile, Ifrah said she personally feels that the male skiers may still get a chance to participate in the international events this year but the women might not be considered for the tours due to funding issues.
“I’ve heard the male athletes have international events lined up, but nothing for us so far. It’s disappointing and disheartening because without the points we have no chance at the Winter Olympics.”
Meanwhile, the SFP said there will be no discrimination between women and men when it comes to sending the entries for the Winter Olympics. They added that none of the Pakistani skiers – male or female – have enough ranking points currently to make a cut for the grand event.
“There is an entire year and there will be more developments,” said an SFP official. “We are supporting the skiers but if none of them is in the top 500 list of the international skiing federation then they will be sent on the country-quota basis. Moreover, we can’t send an all-men’s or all-women’s team; there has to be one woman and one man provided they have 140 points.”
Published in The Express Tribune, February 6th, 2013.
COMMENTS (6)
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In the New England area of US it starts snowing by end of September sometimes and continues on and off till end of March (beginning of April/first, second week)... it snows for almost 6 months and it is the most fertile part of the US. Lots of places (like Canada, Scandinavia) have snowfall for months and people are fair and pretty and agriculture is thriving ....we want that for our people. Agriculture is not everything we want our children to be super educated and come up with higher and higher automations (not just agriculture). If we really want agriculture we can buy farms in Africa. Our lands , are reserved for fields of flowers and for our people to enjoy...
@Ravindra "Being stupid makes sense for you". This sentence totally suits you for your sarcastic scornful and low intellect thoughts. Visit Pakistan and come to Gilgit Baltistan i will show you the places where snow falls throughout 12 months. and please dont teach us about Gods creations cz i also feel pity for your self created Gods who are thousands in numbers.
THIS IS A GENIUN MATTER SPORTS BOARD NEEDS TO TAKE IT SERIOUSLY,, GOOD WISHES FOR IRFAH AND AMNA,, PAKISTAN ZINDABAD
@Something Clever: Show me one country where it snows for six months a year and which is producing enough agricultural output in the same region. Yeah I know you are smart enough to grow crops in Antartica for sure.
@Ravindra: Not quite. You obviously don't know anything about agriculture.
@ibn arastoo: "Very pleased to read this! we pray everyone in the country can ski and play with snow alteast 6 months out of the year. It will make our people pretty and fair and strong and beautiful."
You and your stupid argument. I guess being fair, strong, beautiful and being stupid makes sense for you. If it were to snow six months then all crops in Pakistan would get destroyed. If you want to pray for something then we should ask for being humane, helpful to others and being smart. By the way who told black or brown or off white complexion is bad. Afterall it is God's creation and every creation is beautiful.
Very pleased to read this! we pray everyone in the country can ski and play with snow alteast 6 months out of the year.
It will make our people pretty and fair and strong and beautiful.
May there be snow in Karachi also and in Sindh and Balochistan and Islamabad and Lahore and Peshawar (just like there is New Delhi nowadays even).
Bless all the people, make them loving God!