No excuse for Doha Asian Games debacle, says Arif

KARACHI—Pakistan Olympic Association (POA) Chief Lt.Gen.(Retd) Arif Hasan Tuesday sportingly took the responsibility of debacle in Doha Asian Games and acknowledged that Pakistan clearly lags behind in Asia.
“I don’t want to give excuses and take the responsibility of poor performance of the athletes in Doha ,” he told a news conference. “Like every Pakistani I am also disappointed and dejected with the performance of Pakistan contingent in Qatar,” he candidly admitted.
Pakistan 144-member contingent in a worst-ever performance in Asia, could manage only four medals - one silver and three bronze in the 43-nation continental gala which is held every four year. Gen (Rtd) Arif said he was expecting gold medals from boxers, hockey, team, sailors, oarsmen and cue sports.
He however praised players in martial arts like Wushu for giving a good account of themselves. He recalled Pakistan’s winning gold medal in sixties, seventies and eighties and said it had been because of pure hard work and devotion of athletes and other nations lacking the modern system.
“Other nations have made great strides in developing their sports on modern lines and are dominating in the arena while we went in the reverse,” he remarked. He feared worsts if nothing was done from quarters with united and gigantic effort to lift the sports.
He agreed with a questioner and attributed Pakistan’s below-par showing to lack of dedication among the members of the contingent.
He indirectly blamed national federations and lack of attitude and spirit from the athletes to bring laurels and glory to the country. He feared worsts if nothing was done from quarters with united and gigantic effort to lift the sports.
Arif Hasan called for taking drastic and remedial steps and long-term planning to revive Pakistan sports by launching proper system at grass-root and schools and college level.
He said pre-Asian Games hype was created after Pakistan’s fine display in the SAF Games in Colombo (Sri Lanka) where they raised gold tally to 43 from ten gold medals as host two years ago. “We need to develop and train junior lot with an eye on the next decade” POA chief said.—Agencies