World Championships: Ju-jitsu squad awaits funds, NOCs

Asian title-holders anxious to receive requisite documents in time


Our Correspondent October 28, 2015
PHOTO: AFP/FILE

KARACHI: Pakistan’s players are all set to compete at the World Ju-jitsu Championships that will begin on November 20 in Pattaya, Thailand; however, the Pakistan Sports Board (PSB) has yet to approve funds and issue No-Objection Certificates (NOCs) in time.

The team already holds the Asian ju-jitsu title and according to coach Tariq Ali, the seven-member squad has a good chance of winning the medals at the World Championship as well.



He said that the players are waiting for the PSB to release the grant as the cost of the players’ participation will be Rs150,000 each. The ju-jitsu team will also need the NOCs from the government to compete in Bangkok.

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“The World Championship is the biggest event in our sport,” Ali told The Express Tribune.

“Our players will suffer if they don’t go as they will be unable to earn any ranking points despite being the reigning Asian champions. The countries below us in the continent will still receive their ranking points, which will be unfair on so many levels.”

Ali praised the PSB for supporting ju-jitsu players by holding a training camp for almost eight months, terming it the longest camp for the athletes, who have been practicing for at least four hours a day. However, he reiterated that the board needs to help them all the way.

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“If the grant and the NOCs are not issued on time, all those months of training and the opportunity to win some medals will go to waste,” said Ali.

On the other hand, PSB director Akhtar Ganjera promised to comment on
the ju-jitsu squad’s participation in the World Championships soon.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 29th, 2015.

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