Pakistan’s participation in Asian Games doubtful

National hockey federation yet to send expression of interest.

KARACHI: Pakistan’s dilemma over its participation in the Commonwealth Games (CWG) has been further fueled with the possibility of the greenshirts missing the ticket for the 2014 Asian Games owing to the Pakistan Hockey Federation’s (PHF) indecision.

The Arif Hasan-led Pakistan Olympics Association (POA), authorised by the International Olympic Committee (IOC), asked the PHF to send its expression of interest for the country’s participation at the Asian Games which is scheduled to be held in Incheon, South Korea in September.

“We haven’t received a response from the PHF yet,” Hasan told The Express Tribune on Wednesday.

“We conferred with them about the deadline five days ago. The PHF must send it by December 31 which is the final deadline. Otherwise it will become extremely difficult for us to convince the organisers to grant the team a spot.”

The POA president added that except for the PHF, other sports federations were in loop with his Olympic body and the final contingent would be decided after the deadline.

Meanwhile, the PHF’s version could not be taken as various attempts to contact the top officials – president Akhtar Rasool and secretary Rana Mujahid were futile.

However, an official close to the matter said the PHF was seeking approval from the inter-provincial ministry before contacting Hasan’s body.

The Asian Games’s participation is vital for the greenshirts, especially after failing to qualify for the World Cup, as it will serve as the qualifying event for Olympics 2016.

It may be mentioned that a similar situation rose earlier this year at the time of Pakistan’s confirmation for the 2014 CWG in Glasgow, but the PHF refused to contact Hasan and instead contacted the ministry. The latter advised them to go through the government-backed POA headed by Akram Sahi.

The stand-off has almost ended the chances of Pakistan’s participation in the CWG since the IOC does not recognise Sahi’s association.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 26^th, 2013.

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