Throwball teams to participate in Asian Championship

Men’s team enters the tournament after a long break due to financial constraints.

KARACHI: The Pakistan women’s team will make their international comeback at the Asian Throwball Championship where they will compete against eight countries in Malaysia from May 20.

The last time the team took part in the Asian Championship was back  in 2011, when they brought bronze medals back home.

On the other hand, their male counterparts have not participated in the tournament for a long time due to financial woes faced by the Pakistan Throwball Federation (PTF).



However, according to PTF Secretary Maqbool Arain, the country will field both men’s and women’s teams this time.

Pakistan will be up against India, Sri Lanka, hosts Malaysia, Nepal, Bangladesh, Thailand, Singapore and China.

“We’ve delivered good results each time we competed in the international championship,” Arain told The Express Tribune.

“We are hoping to win gold and silver medals this time as well. We have the required talent.”

Arain said that Sri Lanka and India will be the toughest competitors in the event.

“Throwball was established in Pakistan in 2006 and it’s still a new sport,” said Arain. “But it is growing; scores of athletes are taking interest in it. However, despite possessing the required skills, they lose focus as they don’t get a chance to participate in international events.

“Our federation is not getting any funds; therefore, we had to miss out on the Asian Championship in 2012 and 2013. On the other hand, Sri Lanka and India have been playing throwball internationally since the 1990s. They are more experienced.”

The national camp, aimed at training 20 male and 20 female players for the championship, will begin from Monday in Karachi. Arain said that the selection of the players for the camp took place last month.

“We shortlisted players for the tournament after conducting a three-day trial,” said the official. “Players from schools, colleges and universities took part. We have a good pool of athletes who can win medals for us.”

He further said that 10-member teams for men and women event will be sent to Malaysia along with four officials and that the PTF needs Rs2 million in order to send both teams to the Asian Championship.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 3^rd, 2014.

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