NCC gets new fitness machines, equipment

KARACHI: The sports fraternity—including athletes, weightlifters, bodybuilders, and fitness enthusiasts—was pleasantly surprised upon witnessing a large quantity of new machines and equipment at the Pakistan Sports Board (PSB)-owned National Coaching Center (NCC) in Karachi.

The fitness center at NCC had long suffered from a severe shortage of functional equipment and machines essential for training across various disciplines. For nearly two decades, the PSB had not installed any new fitness machinery, and most of the existing equipment, especially the fixed and technical ones, had fallen into disrepair.

When this scribe inquired how such an impressive upgrade had taken place, sources revealed that a generous sports enthusiast, eager to promote healthy activities and support local athletes, donated all the new equipment.

The donation includes dumbbells and weight plates of varying sizes, bench press setups, shoulder and curling rods, and several other essential items. It is worth mentioning that the fitness center had been deteriorating for a long time. Many machines were unusable due to broken chains and cables, while several dumbbells and weight plates had been stolen over the years.

Despite this, the PSB has been earning a handsome annual income from the fitness centre through membership fees. Sources associated with the fitness center said that the outdated and insufficient equipment made it difficult to accommodate serious athletes.

The facility was mostly being used by middle-aged individuals and those engaging in light physical training. Now, with the arrival of new equipment, a wave of excitement has swept through the sports community.

Regular visitors and athletes are already using the upgraded machines to enhance their physical training and athletic performance. Meanwhile, it is anticipated that the PSB plans to allocate sufficient funds in the upcoming budget for the establishment of a modern fitness center equipped with state-of-the-art machinery.

The proposed new facility will be developed at the same site where hockey 5s and futsal synthetic turfs are currently under construction, though work on these projects is progressing slowly.

Sources added that since the new fitness center will not be located directly next to the hockey 5s and futsal areas, the current gym—recently upgraded through the donor’s contribution—will remain operational.