POA reveals plans for Asian Games

218 athletes to take part in September event in 22 disciplines.

KARACHI:

The Arif Hasan-led Pakistan Olympic Association (POA) announced that the country will field a 218-member contingent at the Asian Games in September.

Hasan held the meeting at the Crown Plaza in Lahore, where he revealed that the POA also plans to send a 53-member contingent to the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, in August.

The POA will field the teams in 22 disciplines including football, tennis, kabaddi and athletics.

However, the participation of hockey remains a question mark due to the ongoing tussle between the parallel POA bodies.

The Pakistan Hockey Federation will need to contact Hasan’s POA – recognised by the International Olympic Committee – in order to get the No-Objection Certificate to take part in the Asian Games.

The Asian Games are the biggest event for Pakistan hockey, as this will be the only Olympic qualification round for the region.

Meanwhile, the matter between the government and the POA remains at a standstill.

While Hasan led the meeting at a local hotel, the government-backed POA, led by Akram Sahi, also held their general council meeting at the Olympic House on the same day.

Published in The Express Tribune, April 27^th, 2014.

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