‘Sports sciences key to improve standard of Pakistan sports’

LAHORE: South Asian karate silver medallist and student of MSc Sports Sciences Punjab University Saweel Fayyaz has said psychologists, doctors, physiotherapists, nutritionists and physical trainers boost the performances of athletes.

Talking to sports journalists here, Saweel said sports sciences help athletes during exercise and tell them how to boost their fitness. “Sports sciences traditionally incorporate areas of physiology (exercise physiology), psychology (sport psychology), anatomy, biomechanics, biochemistry and bio kinetics,” he added.

Saweel, who is a coach at Friend’s Karate Academy, Lahore, said with help of sports sciences and physical education “we can improve the standard of sports in Pakistan and produce professional athletes who can bring honours for the country.

“Japan, China, America and other developed countries honed the skills of their athletes by focusing on modern research, technical training and using the services of sports experts,” he added.

“Unfortunately, our government and sports departments are not interested in taking the services of sports sciences experts and physical educationists. Due to this, the quality of sports is declining day by day and our athletes are suffering from various problems and are not performing to their true potential. If Pakistan wants to develop in sports, it must use the services of sports sciences experts,” he added.