POA satisfied with SAG results

KARACHI: Pakistan Olympic Association (POA) has expressed satisfaction over the country’s performance so far in the 13th South Asian Games and has said that it is because of the well-planned and well-organised 33rd National Games.

“We are delighted to inform that the Team Pakistan, presently participating in the ongoing 13th South Asian Games 2019 at Kathmandu, Nepal, despite all odds, has crossed the medal-tally of the 12th South Asian Games which were held at Guwahati, India, in 2016,” POA said in a press release on Thursday.

“It was due to the well-planned scheduling of the 33rd National Games and the brilliant preparation and performance of the participating athletes that Pakistan is winning medals in the ongoing Nepal Games.

“All the playing units of the POA contributed significantly by training their athletes for the National Games which in turn resulted in an improved performance by all,” the release added.

“So far, Pakistani athletes have bagged 14 gold medals of which six have been clinched by the karate team, the highest medal-winners so far. None of the karateka is returning without a medal which indeed is a great achievement,” the release said.

“Exceptional performance by our athletes in the field of athletics, shooting, taekwondo and wushu has helped Team Pakistan to improve its score from the last South Asian Games held in 2016,” the NOC said.

It said that the POA president expressed gratitude on behalf of the Olympic family to the POA partners who organised the 33rd National Games at Peshawar in November. “He praised the commitment of government of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and KP Olympic Association for organising the 33rd National Games, considered the best ever National Games of Pakistan,” it said.

“We are expecting more medals in athletics, boxing, handball, judo, kabaddi, squash, swimming, weightlifting, wrestling and wushu. Securing more medals in the SA Games will be a very good omen for national sports and all of us should really be proud of our athletes and National Sports Federations (NFs) who despite paucity of resources have done a commendable job,” the POA said.

The POA said if Pakistan athletes were provided the same facilities that other countries provide to their athletes then they could bring more laurels.