The biggest issue in Pakistan sports is that institutions here don’t work seriously in their own domain.

Realistically speaking we have destroyed our system and we need a strong administrator who could bring a revolution in sports.

My topic of discussion today is boxing. National boxers have assembled at the Railways Sports Complex Garhi Shahu, Lahore, to prepare for the two world qualification tournaments for the Paris Olympics.

These Qualifiers will be held in Italy and Bangkok from February 29 to March 12 and from May 23 to June 3, respectively.

Around 16 boxers have been invited to the camp. Till Thursday only Sanaullah and Mohibullah were yet to report for the camp while the rest had already started training. England-born Laura was also in the probables list but according to camp sources she had also not reported.

A few days ago I visited the venue. Before going to the facility I was sure that it would be below standard as we have destroyed Railways. You enter the venue after passing through the congested residential complexes and you can call this zone a slum. As I entered through the main gate I saw the boxing ring and I cannot describe its condition and the condition of its floor. It was too poor for our mainstream boxers to be sparring there.

There was no one on that spot and I entered the main complex where I found a couple of Pakistan camp officials along with a former boxer.

The Railways Stadium was also giving a poor look and it added to my worries. We entered a tiny dining hall and sat on a dining table which looked old and rather filthy. In a few minutes a few boxers also sat there and they were served the meal. It was a single dish and it again made me worry for the fighters.

After discussing various boxing matters we passed through some narrow areas and broke into the hostel and that also depressed me a lot.

I asked if it was a players’ hostel. They told me it was. I asked them about its condition. They replied, “bas guzara hai (we make do with it)”.

But I was seeing the gloom on the faces of the boxers who are set to press for the Olympics seats.

Last night I learnt that there is no heater and even no gas at the hostel and boxers are facing issues at a time when the weather has turned extremely cold in Lahore.

I was told that boxers have been given blankets and that’s all.

I understand that Pakistan Boxing Federation (PBF) had made an effort to get accommodation at the PSB Coaching Centre and WAPDA Sports Complex but the federation did not get any green signal from the authorities of those facilities.

The PBF has no money in its exchequer but it is compelled to prepare the fighters for the Olympics Qualifiers. I have been told that a top PBF official has spent millions from his own pocket. Currently the PBF is managing food expenses of the boxers.

I think the government should come forward to support the national fighters who have assembled for a major national cause.

It is the responsibility of the state to provide good training facilities to the players.

I understand that currently only one athlete is residing at the PSB Coaching Centre, Lahore. Pakistan Sports Board should also accommodate the hapless boxers at the same hostel where the fighters will at least get a better training environment and they will also go out to take their meals at better hotels nearby.

It is the constitutional obligation of the PSB to provide infrastructure facilities to the national athletes and diet when they prepare for national duty. If there is no money with the PSB then at least it can provide accommodation to the national boxers. I hope the PSB will take prompt action to accommodate the national fighters at its centre.

If we continue to keep the boxers at the Railways Sports Complex they will not be able to perform well. How can they? How can we keep them motivated? We should understand the situation. Sports is not a joke.

We should look after our athletes well and if we do this then we can expect medals from them.

If we don’t care then we should not expect medals from them.

Why should federations request others for training facilities when the PSB facilities are lying vacant.

The state should back the federations. I was thinking that the state would support the athletes preparing for the Olympics Qualifiers but so far nothing like that has been seen. The government has not even responded to the request of the Pakistan Wrestling Federation relating to the national camp for the Qualifiers and on that front too the delay in holding camp will deprive the national grapplers of the opportunity to prepare well as time is slipping off their hands.

Let’s act promptly and support the athletes for their better future and for a better image of the country.

Pakistan has a chance to qualify for the Paris Olympics in boxing. Zohaib Rasheed is a big hope for the country. Having got medals at the Asian level Zohaib has started tough training and was optimistic about his chances during a chat with me a few days ago. However, he said that a foreign training tour would be required for better preparation.

73.alam@gmail.com