Asian Games: Federations training hard for C’wealth, Asian Games

Islamabad—Training camps of all Pakistani players for Commonwealth and Asian Games later this year will commence at full strength after August 14, concerned officials said on Wednesday.

These camps will mostly be held at the multi-facilities Pakistan Sports Complex in the Federal Capital while a few will be organised in the provincial capitals.

Kabaddi players have already started their training for the Asian Games while training of players for other disciplines for the Asiad-bound players will start by the middle of next month.

Commonwealth Games will be held in October at New Delhi (India} followed by Asian Games in November in China.

The Pakistan hockey team will undergo extensive training under the supervision of specialized foreign coaches to give final touches to its preparations for the two elite events,” said Secretary Pakistan Hockey Federation, Muhammad Asif Bajwa told APP here on Tuesday.

Representatives from the boxing, billiards and snooker, baseball, kabaddi, sailing, squash, volleyball, weighlifting, wrestling and wushu federations apprised the PSB officials on their preparations for the commonwealth Games.

Deputy Director General (Technical) of the PSB Abdul Waheed Mughal, ha said that preparations for the Games are on track as all the federations are working hard for the event.

The Pakistan Boxing Federation (PBF) is finalising the schedule of a joint training camp for the Commonwealth Games that will include 10 other countries.

President of the PBF Akram Khan said the idea to hold the camp came after various countries showed interest in it.

“The Commonwealth countries, especially the Central African nations, were really keen to train their boxers in Pakistan as it has similar conditions to that in India,” said Khan.

However PBF has named a six-member squad for the New Delhi Commonwealth Games 2010 that will be held from October 3-14.

Pakistan team includes Mohammad Waseem (49kg), Haroon Shahid (52kg), Qadir Khan (56kg), Adnan Hussain (60kg), Nisar Khan (75kg) and Mir Waiz Khan (91+kg). Two boxers in the reserve list are Naimat Ullah (56kg) and Arshad Hussain (60kg).

Cuban coach Francisco Hernandez Roldan will be the chief coach and Ali Bukhsh will serve as his deputy while president of Balochistan Boxing Association (BBA) Faqir Hussain will be the team manager.

Muhammad Sarwar, Secretary of the Pakistan Kabaddi Federation (PKF) told APP that the Pakistan kabaddi team is currently undergoing training at Jinnah Stadium where 10-senior and 11-young players are part of the camp for the tournament.

However the Deputy Director General (Technical) of the PSB Abdul Waheed Mughal, has said that the preparations for the Games are on track as all the federations are working hard for the event.

Around 200 athletes, according to Mughal, were shortlisted for the participation in the CW games from a list of over 300.

A further 75 athletes from different disciplines would be finalised in the last week of August for the event.

“The list will be prepared after reviewing the final preparation and the athletes who impress will definitely get a place in the contingent.” He added.—APP