SFP to introduce roller skiing in Islamabad

The federation is hoping to build adequate facilities, rope in a coach.

KARACHI: The Ski Federation of Pakistan (SFP) will expand its programme by introducing roller skiing as one of the disciplines in September.

SFP secretary Mussarat Ali said it is high time Pakistan athletes were given the opportunity to pursue this sport with adequate facilities.

He said the federation is focusing on obtaining the required equipment and he has asked the International Ski Federation (FIS) to recommend a coach who can efficiently train the athletes.



“We want to have roller skiing competitions in the country, hopefully from September onwards,” Ali told The Express Tribune. “We wrote a letter to the FIS committee three days ago requesting a coach and the equipment that we’ll need.”

Ali emphasised that roller skiing is an international sport mostly dominated by European countries but perhaps in the future Pakistan could go on to win the World Cup. “We are making efforts because Pakistanis have the potential to do well in this sport; maybe, in due time, and with efforts we can win the World Cup too.”

The official added that roller skiing will attract more athletes compared to other ski disciplines. “More people will come towards roller skiing compared to alpine skiing because the facilities will be available to them in their city and it’ll be an all year round activity.”

Moreover, the official stated that after Islamabad, the federation had plans of taking the sport to Karachi and Lahore as well.

Published in The Express Tribune, March  30^th,  2015.

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