AFP seeks to get Rio entries replaced

KARACHI: After a few brilliant performances in the National Athletics Championship in Quetta early this month Athletics Federation of Pakistan (AFP) has decided to replace the earlier tentative entries of two athletes it had sent to the world athletics governing body (IAAF) for wild cards for Rio Olympics.

The AFP had sent to the IAAF tentative entries of Maria Maratab (100m hurdles) and experienced Mohammad Ikram (800m).

In the national event in Quetta, Mehboob Ali of Army equalled a 12-year-old 400m record and Najma Parveen of WAPDA bagged six gold medals. These performances forced AFP to write to the Pakistan Olympic Association (POA) that Maria and Ikram need to be replaced with Mehboob and Najma for Rio Olympics.

The deadline for online accreditation was April 29, 2016.

The AFP has not received confirmation from the IAAF for the entries of Maria and Ikram.

A POA official confirmed to this correspondent that the AFP had written to it for replacement. “There are some complications but we will fight for the federation in its bid to get the entries changed,” the official said.

A source in Army’s athletics circle told this correspondent that there was no confirmation. “We don’t know exactly who are being sent to Rio,” the source said.

Another source said that the AFP may opt for not sending its athletes to Rio if its replacement request was not accepted.

A POA official said that two swimmers would go to Rio because IOC had confirmed two entries by number.

An official of Pakistan Swimming Federation (PSF) told this correspondent a couple of days ago that the final entries of one male and one female swimmer would be confirmed in a week by name. Two shooters have earned tickets for Rio de Janeiro on quota, while judoka Shah Hussain has virtually qualified for Rio Games to be held in August.

National boxers have a minor qualifying chance as they are to feature in the world qualifying round to be held in the Azerbaijan capital Baku from June 14 to 26.

Pakistan’s camp is in progress at the Pakistan Sports Complex in Islamabad for the last 20 days.