Athletics teams to arrive in Karachi from this week: Rizvi

KARACHI: The preparation for the 48th National Athletics Championship is in full swing at PSB’s coaching centre in Karachi where the tartan track has been mended for the event, scheduled to be held from April 7-9.

The participating teams will start arriving in Karachi from this weak, organising secretary Zahid Rizvi told ‘The News’ on Sunday.

He said that as the track was ready for the event, the participating teams would start reaching Karachi from this weak and start practising.

Rizvi, also the president of Sindh Athletic Association (SAA), said that more than 500 athletes, male and female, would participate in the championship.

He also said that equipment needed for the events, including pole-vaulting, cross bar, javelin throw and hammer throw, and the electronic timer would also reach the coaching centre later this month.

The SAA president vowed that the championship would be organised in a befitting manner.

Pakistan Athletics Federation (PAF) allotted the 48th championship to SAA.

The participating teams are Army, PAF, Navy, WAPDA, Railways, HEC, Islamabad, Punjab, Sindh, KP, Balochistan, AJK and Gilgit-Baltistan.

PAF is providing financial and technical support to SAA to organise the national athletic championship successfully.

Rizvi said that all departmental athletics teams would have to arrange their lodging. “We will provide lodging to regional teams only,” he said.

He said experienced athletes of the province had been engaged for organising the championship.

Rizvi said that ace Pakistani athlete and qualified coach Muhammad Talib would also be involved in the championship as the chairman of the technical committee.