Weightlifting body urges govt to release funds

KARACHI: Pakistan's participation in the Asian Weightlifting Championships next month in China is still in doubt as the tour will need funding by the government, it was learnt on Thursday.

The Asian Weightlifting Championships will be held at Ningbo, China, from April 18-28.

The continental event is also a qualifying round for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.

"You know we have no funds and are desperately waiting for the state support. I request the Ministry for Inter-Provincial Coordination (IPC) to give us some funds so that we could send our top weightlifters to the event," PWF secretary Amjad Amin Butt told 'The News'.

He was quick to add that the continental competition was very tough as Asia had the world's top weightlifters but Pakistan needed to participate because it might enable its weightlifters to have chances of qualifying for Olympics.

"Even if we don't get a medal in it, at least our weightlifters will get some points through better lifts and that will improve their Olympic rankings," Butt said.

He said that the PWF had already filed a request with the Pakistan Sports Board (PSB) for NOC for the event."It is always difficult for a federation to manage foreign tours for its players without state support. It is even tougher for us as we don't get sponsors. Nobody supports weightlifting," Butt said.

"We have always tried to support our weightlifters. Running a federation is not that easy. You have to ignore your business and family affairs for the purpose. We don't get any salary and are accountable for all the money which we get from the state," Butt said.

He said he still hoped that the government would start baking the federations because there were important events ahead.

Butt also said that the country's leading weightlifters were busy in preparation on their own. "Our leading weightlifters have passion for the game. They also have good support from their families and these things count a lot and add to their growth in the field," Butt said.

Pakistan's top weightlifters Nooh Dastgir Butt and Talha Talib, if rightly prepared, have the ability to make a cut for 2020 Olympics. The PWF aims to send three weightlifters to China. "Our aim is to field at least three top boys in the China event," Butt said.

Pakistani weightlifters have to compete in at least five events in the next few months, including the Asian Championships. These events serve as qualifiers for Olympic Games.