PWF plans to field solid squad in Commonwealth Championships

KARACHI: Pakistan Weightlifting Federation (PWF) plans to field a solid squad in the Commonwealth Senior, Junior and Youth Championships pencilled in for September 3-9 in Gold Coast, Australia.

“It is premature to say anything certain as monetary and visa issues may create problems as normally happens when you field your team in such championships,” PWF secretary Amjad Amin Butt told ‘The News’ in an interview from Lahore on Monday. “But we aim to field the best of our athletes in the event,” he added.

“Those weightlifters who had been fielded in the Asian Championship and the Islamic Games are our best lot. You will see most of them in the Australia event,” Butt added.

He was confident that Pakistan would grab some medals. “We have fine stuff in various categories and I hope Pakistan will pick some medals,” the official said.

In the 2016 Commonwealth Senior, Junior and Youth Championships held in Penang, Malaysia, Nooh Dastagir Butt (+105kg) claimed bronze in seniors, Talha Talib (62kg) and Nooh (+105kg) clinched silver in juniors, while Talha got gold in youth and Farhan Amjad claimed bronze in 77kg in the youth category.

Butt said that Pakistan might also give chance to some juniors in the competitions. “The juniors’ camp is in progress in Lahore. We are trying to keep a few seniors with them,” he said.

He said the PWF wished to send two or three weightlifters to Kathmandu for the Asian Junior and Youth Championship to be held there from July 21-29.

Besides this, Pakistan will also participate in weightlifting in the Asian Indoor and Martial Arts Games to be held in Ashgabat, Turkmenistan, from September 17-27.

“There is a quota for that and I think one or two from Pakistan will be fielded,” the PWF official said.

Butt was satisfied with the performance of the weightlifters in the Islamic Games. “I am happy with the way every boy played in Baku. Usman Rathore made the best effort of his life,” he said.