Parallel wushu bodies case hearing today

KARACHI: A very important hearing in the Islamabad civil court will be held on Monday (today) which will decide the fate of the camp of the national wushu players who are eagerly waiting for the commencement of their preparation for international events, including Islamic Games.

Sources in the Pakistan Wuhsu Federation (PWF) told ‘The News’ on Sunday the national wushu camp had to begin on March 1 in Islamabad but its parallel federation got a stay order against it.

The parallel body claims that Malik Iftikhar is not the president of the internationally- recognised PWF. Iftikhar-led PWF is recognised by the Pakistan Olympic Association (POA) and Pakistan Sports Board (PSB).

The wushu competitions in the Islamic Games will be played under new rules which the Pakistani players are yet to learn.

An official of the PWF told this correspondent the Pakistani players did not know about the new rules. He added that the federation needed sufficient time to train the boys under the new rules for Islamic Games which are to be held in Baku, Azerbaijan, from May 12-22.

The official said that the rules had been changed in June last year in a meeting in China.

He said the PWF was going to hold a training camp in Lahore from March 10-12 in which an A Grade coach, who knows the new rules, would guide the players.

The official added that Pakistan had the potential to win medal in the Islamic Games. “Iran will be difficult for us. We have beaten all the Central Asian countries and even Turkey. We have not yet played against Indonesia. I am very confident that we will win a medal in the event,” the official said.

Pakistan plans to send six players to Baku. “There are seven weights and six are allowed in the Islamic Games. In our squad one player will be senior, four will be those who have some international exposure and one will be completely fresh. But all these players are much better than the previous lots,” the official claimed.

Wushu has been hit hard by litigation. Since last June the players have not been able to get any camp.

The PWF also plans to send its squad to Iran for an international event next month. And soon after the Islamic Games, Pakistan plans to host the South Asian Wushu Championship at the Pakistan Sports Complex, Islamabad, from May 28-31.

In the Islamic Games, Pakistan plans to field a contingent of around 200 in 14 disciplines. Camps of most of the disciplines have already been started at various centres of the country. The probable players’ lists have been sent. The federations are about to finalise their squads for the competitions which are being held for the fourth time.

In 2005 edition in Saudi Arabia, Pakistan had performed well in tennis. The 2010 edition which was scheduled to be held in Iran was cancelled.

Pakistan only had a token participation in 2013 in Indonesia because of the conflict between the POA and the PSB.