Yasir facing equipment issues

LAHORE: Pakistan’s No2 javelin thrower Mohammad Yasir Sultan is facing issues during his training which is affecting his preparation for Paris Olympics Qualifiers.

This correspondent witnessed his weight training on Tuesday here at the PSB Coaching Centre which offers almost no facilities to the country’s premier athletes who are training to prepare for major international events.

It was surprising to see Yasir doing his weight training with outdated equipment. Not only the platform had cracks in it but due to absence of hand powder he was compelled to use a flat rubber strip for gripping.

It was a nauseating scene for this correspondent who saw a prolific athlete battling such issues. This correspondent also saw Yasir’s training the other day and it was felt that he was badly missing a quality javelin which is used for 90 metre training. This correspondent understands that the country’s premier javelin thrower Arshad Nadeem has in his possession a quality javelin which had been gifted to him by a former Army Chief.

Sources said that Yasir had requested a relevant person that it would be good if he is given that javelin for a few days for training as Arshad is also abroad these days for training purposes.

However, this correspondent learnt through well-placed sources that Yasir was not given that javelin as a person stops that man from giving the athlete that javelin. Yasir has achieved top shape despite numerous hurdles. He is expected to achieve the milestone of qualifying for the Paris Olympics. This correspondent also saw his training a few days ago and it was amazing to see him almost touching his desired target.

Besides Korea’s event in June it is also expected that Yasir and Arshad, who is now in South Africa, will also be sent to China for an event by June end. Yasir, also an Asian bronze medallist, will need to manage a throw of 85.50 metre if he is to qualify directly for the Paris Olympics.

Yasir’s personal best throw is 79.93 metre which he managed in the Asian Championship in Bangkok last year, a feat which earned him a bronze medal. Yasir on Tuesday managed around 80kg to 100kg snatch which showed how fit he is. His motivation level was also seen at the peak. However sources said that it would be of great value if Yasir was also sent to Doha for an event which will begin in the next few days.

Meanwhile, this correspondent also saw Olympics Qualifiers-bound boxers grappling with ring problems. The biggest issue is that the PSB-owned ring is too old and its platform has been damaged by termite. National boxers were seen on Tuesday making the outdated ring ready for sparring which was a repelling scene.

This correspondent learnt that it is two and a half decades old ring and the negative point is that it has been installed in the open. “It should have been an indoor facility as we box indoor in international circuit,” a source told ‘The News’.

National boxers will feature in the final qualifying event which will be hosted by Thailand from May 25 to June 2. National pugilists flopped in the previous two qualifiers including the last year’s Hangzhou Asian Games and a qualifier in Italy held recently which also saw the country’s premier fighter Zohaib Rasheed disappearing before the formal start of the event.