Volleyball players resume training

KARACHI: After a three-day break for Eid-ul-Fitr, Pakistan volleyball team resumed its training at the air-conditioned hall at POF Wah on Monday to prepare for the 18th Asian Senior Men’s Volleyball Championship to be held at the Azadi Sports Complex in Tehran from July 31 to August 8.
“Yes, we resumed the preparation today,” Pakistan coach Mazhar Hussain told ‘The News’ from Wah Cantt on Monday.
Pakistan have been placed in Group C with Thailand, South Korea and Oman. Pakistan open their campaign from the game against Thailand on July 31, play against Oman on August 1 and South Korea on August 2.
Hosts and defending champions Iran, Kazakhstan, Kuwait and Chinese Taipei have been bracketed in Group A, while Group B carries Australia, India, Turkmenistan and Qatar.
China, Japan, Sri Lanka and Bahrain are in Group D.
Two teams from each group will qualify for the quarter-finals.
Mazhar said he expected the team to put up a good fight in the competitions. “Despite Ramadan and excessive heat the boys worked hard and are in great shape. I hope we will make it to the semi-finals,” Mazhar said.
“In Ramadan we mostly trained at night. Now the team will practise from 10am to 12 noon and then from 5pm to 7:30pm,” the coach said.
Pakistan have been preparing for the event since May 20. After undergoing a month-long training at WAPDA Sports Complex Lahore the camp was shifted to POF Wah last month due to excessive heat in the Punjab capital.
Mazhar said that young blood had been injected into the side, which made it more vibrant. “A few youngsters, including Usman, Kashif, Mohammad Idrees and Murad Khan, will make their debut. They are highly talented and I am optimistic they will make their presence felt,” he said.
Pakistan’s experienced player Aimal Khan, who plays in a league in Taiwan, is expected to join the camp soon. “Aimal has returned home and will join us in a couple of days,” Mazhar revealed.
Currently, there are 22 players in the camp and according to Mazhar the final 12-member side would be unveiled a couple of days before the team’s departure to Tehran on July 29.
Meanwhile, national boxers will assemble here at the PSB Coaching Centre on July 25 to resume their training for the ASBC Continental Boxing championship to be held at Bangkok from August 26 to September 5.
“Training will resume on July 25,” Pakistan Boxing Federation’s (PBF) secretary Iqbal Hussain told this correspondent on Monday.
“By 12 midnight (July 20) I will send names of 18 probable players to the organisers. Then by August 10 to 12 we will confirm our final entry in the Asian Championship,” Iqbal said.
He said star boxer Mohammad Waseem would be sent to Japan on July 28 for 20-day training for the continental event.
“Waseem will apply for visa in a couple of days. Training in Japan will boost his morale,” Iqbal said.
The Asian Championship serves as qualifiers for the World Championship to be conducted in Doha in October.
Iqbal also disclosed that Pakistan Olympic Association (POA) had asked them to also start preparation for the South Asian Games to be held in India from January 10 to 20.
“There are six weight categories this time. We will try to form a fighting lot,” Iqbal said.
Guwahati and Shillong will host SAG which could not be held in 2012 due to elections in India and suspension of Indian Olympic Association (IOA) by International Olympic Committee (IOC).