POA helps Pak shooters after PSB’s lethargy

KARACHI: Pakistan Sports Board’s (PSB) sheer negligence could have resulted in ouster of the country's shooters from Tokyo Olympics.

It has been learnt that PSB did not book flights for the shooters as per the instructions from the organisers of Tokyo Olympics.

“The deadline to submit the shooters' traveling details along with their tickets to Japan was May 21,” said an official of National Rifle Association of Pakistan while talking to ‘The News’.

But, he added, the PSB did not pay any heed to the deadline.

“The Pakistan Olympic Association then came to rescue us and booked the tickets and made other necessary arrangements within the given time,” said the official.

The shooters (Gulfam Joseph, Mohammad Khalil Akhtar and Ghulam Mustafa Bashir) and their manager are leaving on Friday, the official added.

“Today (Tuesday) we received the tickets from PSB two months after the deadline,” said the official.

It is pertinent to mention here that Pakistan’s Olympic contingent will leave for Tokyo on July 16 and July 21-22. The Olympics are to commence from July 23.