Sports

Weightlifters end protest after flag snub

The Pakistan weightlifters contingent has ended its protest and agreed to take part in the Commonwealth Games.

Fawad Hussain October 04, 2010

KARACHI: The Pakistan weightlifters contingent has ended its protest and agreed to take part in the Commonwealth Games (CWG) after the Pakistan Olympic Association (POA) promised to look into the ugly flag-carrying spat that took place during the opening ceremony.

The weightlifters threatened to pull out of the event after Pakistan’s chef-de-mission Dr Mohammad Ali Shah, also the Sindh sports minister, decided to carry the national flag instead of the designated carrier, 2006 CWG gold-medallist weightlifter Shujauddin Malik.

Pakistan weightlifting coach and manager Rashid Mehmood said that the POA Chairman Arif Hasan has assured a full inquiry into the incident and has also promised to take possible action against Shah if found guilty of misconduct.

“We’ll be competing in the event after an assurance by the POA,” Mehmood told The Express Tribune. “We took this decision as we’re here to promote Pakistan. The weightlifters are trying to forget the incident and are fully focussed on giving their best in the competition.”

Shah denies snatching flag

The under-fire chef-de-mission has denied snatching the flag, adding that Malik was not the designated flag-bearer.

“Nothing was decided before the ceremony about who will the flag bearer be,” said Shah. “I decided to lead the squad and it’s not a rigid rule that only athletes will lead their respective contingents.”

Shah added that the weightlifting officials had nominated Malik’s name without consulting with the management.

“The misunderstanding took place because their manager had nominated Malik’s names without informing me or other officials.”

POA launches inquiry

“The POA chief will chair a meeting of Pakistan contingent’s officials today to find out reasons for the tussle,” said an official part of the Pakistan contingent in New Delhi. He, however, did confirm that since the POA had taken up the matter.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 5^th, 2010.

COMMENTS (6)

welt | 14 years ago | Reply If it gives you guys in Pakistan any comfort, we have such low life as Dr Shah in India as well, who go around as Sports Adminstrators, Managers and other no-gooders. Guess it will take sometime for the governments to realise that promoting such idiots to run sports bodies and institutions is the first reason why sports takes a backseat in the sub-continent.

Umair Mallick | 14 years ago | Reply First of all: Shame to this individual called Dr Shah... Please someone investigate he is perhaps another one of the black sheep MP holding a fake degree. He should not only be dismissed but also set as an example for the others alike. Second: There should be a commission to wipe out all political interference from sports. There is a need for legislation giving heavy punishments to those who politicise sports, cultural activities, music, arts, mass media and heritage. There should an independent authority at national, provincial and district levels to oversee recruitment and promotion of real talent in the country. Third: There should be an organisation to provide support, encouragement as well as promotion in mass and media at national and international level for the sportsmen representing the country. Last: Thank you Indian public for being so supportive. Being neighbours we should not miss any opportunity to create bonding between our communities. We have a common past and should aim for a brilliant future next to each other.

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Kamran Ashraf | 14 years ago | Reply Leave it to a Pakistani political appointee, to abuse the power of his office, to deprive a young national hero of perhaps the biggest honor of his sporting life: to carry his nation's flag, with millions of people watching. What's next for "Mr chief-de-mission". accepting any medals won by our athletes on their behalf. Surely there is no "rigid" rule limiting acceptance of a medal only by the rightful recipient of such honor, the athlete that is. The fact is that a real chief of the squad would have found a way to lift spirits and unify the squad instead of becoming a reason for contention and acrimony. I seriously doubt that Mr Shah has ever spilled a drop of sweat in his life that resulted in glory for this nation on an international stage, whereas the kid nominated as the flag bearer is a gold medalist from the CWG 2006, and that is the highest qualification one can have for the aforementioned position. For, the CWG or the olympics or any such event is about the athletes. It's their stage, their time and their moment to shine and receive honors and laurels, and not some "never was's" opportunity to pump his sorry ego. But this is just the microcosm of the political and social realities in Pakistan. Shameful, spineless and appauling.

Tahir | 14 years ago | Reply Shame on Dr. Shah. He typifies the lack of respect for merit and professionalism, prevalent among the rulers. He is self-projecting, egoistic and shameless. He does not regret the incident and is trying to justify the wromg by baseless explanations. He should be stripped of the title of Chef de Mission and be recalled unless he offers a public apology to the nation and to the wronged weight-lifter. We need to promote honesty, truthfulness and decency in public lives and Dr. Shah must be taken to task for such a blatant misuse of authority. Shame on him

Tahir | 14 years ago | Reply Shame on Dr.Shah. He has typified the lack of respect for professionals. He is self-projecting and egoistic. Now he is covering it up. He lacks honesty, decency and should be asked to return home. Shame on him

Hamood | 14 years ago | Reply Another low life politician minister who probably got his post because of sifarish. Even it is not written rule that an athlete carries the flag, it is a matter of common decency and an established norm that a renowned athlete who has brought laurels to the country will do so. But then you cannot expect decency and discipline from a politician.

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