Wushu players being trained despite lack of funds

KARACHI: The internationally-recognised Pakistan Wushu Federation (PWF) is making efforts to prepare its players in different regions of the country for the Islamic Games, which are slated to be held in Azerbaijan’s capital Baku from May 12-22.

The PWF could not hold its camp in Islamabad because its rival group got a stay order in this matter.

Sources in the PWF told this correspondent on Sunday that the federation had written to the Pakistan Olympic Association(POA) that neither had its camp for the Baku assignment begun, nor had it the equipment and funds.

The sources said that the POA had assured them of every possible support.

The sources said that despite the issue, the PWF had been making concerted efforts to train athletes at different regions of the country for the Islamic Games.

Some players are being trained in Quetta and some in Lahore by qualified coaches, who know the changes which have been made to the rules of the sport in recent times.

The sources said that Islamabad, Peshawar, FATA and Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) units had also been asked to send their players to Lahore for a few days so that they could be taught the new rules.

“We have some qualified coaches such as Usman Ahmed and Amir Shehzad Butt who are aware of the modifications in the rules and regulations,” a PWF official said.

He said that special lectures had been given to the players in Lahore twice this month and in April too such an exercise would be undertaken so that maximum players could learn the new rules.

The wushu rules have been changed almost 70 percent and in the Islamic Games the competitions would be held under the new rules.  Pakistan are expected to field six players in the Islamic Games.