Sports minister to become SOA chief

KARACHI: Sindh Olympic Association (SOA) is set to bring in provincial sports minister Sardar Mohammad Bux Khan Mahar as its president, ‘The News’ learnt through a highly credible source on Tuesday.

The SOA has convened its executive committee and general council meetings for the purpose here at a local hotel on February 24 at 3pm.The young Mahar will replace Brig (retd) Rashid Malik, who died on October 1, last year.

Malik had replaced former Sindh sports minister Dr Mohammad Ali Shah as SOA chief after his death in 2013 in the United States.“Bringing Mahar is a good step as he is young and is interested in sports. His induction in the SOA will strengthen the association,” the source said.

Since the death of Dr Shah the SOA has been facing tough times as it has not been enjoying the support of the provincial government.The Pakistan Olympic Association (POA) allotted Sindh the First National Beach Games a few years ago but the association failed to organise the spectacle because of its inability to take the support of the Sindh government.

Even now the Sindh government is going to organise Sindh Games at Karachi from March 28-30 but the SOA has not been given any prominent role. Dr Shah, both as Sindh sports minister and SOA president, held the Games five times in a record five years.