PSB incurs losses on cancellation of Tokyo tickets

KARACHI: Pakistan Sports Board (PSB) has incurred losses in terms of cancellation charges on tickets of Tokyo-bound Pakistani athletes with two foreign airlines.

The PSB booked confirmed return tickets of the athletes on July 13 although Pakistan Olympic Association (POA) had already booked their tickets in May.

This is coordinated effort of PSB not only resulted in a big loss to the national exchequer but also created embarrassment and confusion for the Pakistani athletes.

It is worth adding here that as per Olympic Activity Plan the tickets of the entire contingent were supposed to be booked by June 11 and the arrival plan had to be sent to the Tokyo Olympics Organising Committee.

Also, Pakistan had to inform the Tokyo Organising Committee by May 21 from which flight the ammunition and firearms of Pakistani shooters were coming to Japan.

According to the details of the PSB’s travelling plan, a number of athletes were to leave for Tokyo on July 17 instead of July 16.

The tickets booked for Khalil Akhtar, Farrukh Nadeem, Bisma Khan, Haseeb Tariq, and Mahoor Shehzad by PSB would have made them reach Tokyo on July 18.

But according to POA’s plan all three shooters, their manager, Mahoor, Haseeb, and Bisma will reach Japan on July 17.

Talha Talib was to reach Japan on July 19 as per PSB’s plan but according to POA’s plan his departure to Tokyo is on July 21.

POA Secretary Khalid Mehmood told ‘The News’ that the travelling plans of PSB and POA were different.

“As per PSB’s plan and booking the athletes would leave Pakistan on July 17, but in that case nobody would be there in Japan to receive Pakistani athletes on July 18,” said Khalid.

When contacted, PSB’s Director Public Relations M Shahid said they had reimbursed the travelling cost of the athletes to POA and that they did not incur any loss.

“We have reimbursed the POA at the rate of Rs266,000 and we have not incurred any losses,” said Shahid.