Pakistan lifters’ participation in Asian event still in doubt

KARACHI: Pakistan’s participation in the Asian Weightlifting Championships next month in China is still in doubt as the tour will need state support, it was learnt on Thursday.

The event will be held at Ningbo, China, from April 18-28. The continental tournament 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 of 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 at least participation as it might enable its weightlifters to keep alive for a possible Olympic berth.

“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.

“You know it is always difficult for a federation to manage foreign tours for its players without the state support. And particularly in weightlifting it is even more tough as we don’t get sponsors as nobody takes interest to back weightlifting,” Butt said.

“We have always tried to support our weightlifters. Running a federation is not that easy. If you handle the affairs of a federation you will need to give other sacrifices. You will ignore your business and family affairs for the purpose. You know 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 backing the federations as it was very important at a stage when vital events were ahead.

Butt also informed 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 are so competent that if rightly prepared they have the ability to make a cut for 2020 Olympics.

The PWF aims to at least send three weightlifters to China.

“Our aim is to at least field three top boys in the China event,” Butt said.

Including the Asian Championships, Pakistani weightlifters will have to field in at least five events which serve as qualifiers for the Olympic Games in the next few months.