Sports boardies seek guarantees from federations

LAHORE: The Pakistan Olympic Association (POA) and the Pakistan Sports Board (PSB) have decided to seek guarantee from the national sports federations before confirming the disciplines for the upcoming Asian and Commonwealth Games. 

Weightlifting is one of the disciplines Pakistan is expected to participate in at the Commonwealth Games 2010. —AP/File Photo


The decision was taken at a meeting held at the POA offices here on Monday. “We have already sent the tentative entries to the organisers of the Commonwealth and Asian Games about the participation of the Pakistani contingent and a final decision will be taken after taking assurances from the federations,” a POA spokesman said.

However, it is learnt that after two female athletes Sadaf Siddique and Javaria Hasan tested positive for banned substances, no athlete will now represent the country in both the high-profile events.

Furthermore, no swimmer will feature in either games, it was learnt.

However, the POA has included both swimming and athletics as the participating events for the Commonwealth Games. Besides swimming and athletics, the other disciplines recommended for the Oct 3-14 Commonwealth Games in India are boxing, tennis, shooting, squash, hockey, weightlifting, and wrestling.

For the Asian Games, which are to be held in China in November this year, ten games recommended for participation include snooker, boxing, cricket (men and women), hockey, kabaddi, sailing, squash, weightlifting, wrestling and wushu.