Skiing: Slow start for national skiers in Europe

Winter Olympian Abbas hopeful of picking up pace.

KARACHI: Pakistan’s skiing contingent consisting of Muhammad Abbas, Muhammad Karim and Mir Nawaz Junior failed to make an impact in the opening races in Asiago as they finished in the bottom half of the 30-man list of athletes.

The alpine skiers will next journey to Italy, Austria, Lebanon and Turkey in a bid to earn at least 140 points to qualify for the Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia next year.

“We still have two more events and we will pick up,” Abbas told The Express Tribune. “We are strong enough to win the final rounds here in Asiago. These are our first European events too, so we are hoping to pick the pace in the next event that is on February 24.”

Published in The Express Tribune, February 23^rd, 2013.