There is uncertainty about the players’ preparations for the Commonwealth Games and Asian Games. So far nothing concrete has been seen in that direction. We should have started the camps much earlier. I have been in contact with several federations and very few have started the camps and those too in patches. The basic issue is lack of funds.In the past, Pakistan Sports Board (PSB) used to strongly back the camps, not a few boys or girls but all those who deserved. However, now things seem to have changed. It is highly likely that the federations will face more issues.

Another thing is that the DG PSB a few days ago told me in an interview that only medal prospects would be fully backed. That would again create issues for those federations which do not have a medal chance in these Games but aim to give exposure to their budding players. How they will manage things is yet to be seen. It’s not easy to find sponsors, particularly for those disciplines in which we have no international standings.

Because of the Covid issues during the last couple of years it was important to hold camps much earlier. Any further delay will weaken our medals chances, especially in the Commonwealth Games where we have some chances in some disciplines.

Asian Games are much tougher and there we will, as usual, struggle. Our sports sector has not been treated well for the last few years. The PTI government, in particular, has damaged the sector a lot.

We cannot win medals in the Commonwealth Games and the Asian Games only through camps. You need top-level training on foreign soil. Unless your players get a competitive training environment their standard will not improve.

Our boxers need a foreign coach and foreign training and so do our players of martial arts disciplines, volleyball, wrestling, athletics and badminton.

Exposure is highly necessary for showing improvement at the major stages. What we need is all-encompassing support from the government.

At least for preparations and featuring in the Games, the PSB should back federations with full zeal. If PSB cannot back them then there is no need for the Board to exist. I believe that federations also have responsibilities and they should bring improvement in their administration and governance but the state's role will always be of great importance in the sports development of the country.

In an environment like this it is not easy to make branding of athletes or pull-off sponsorships when we haven’t achieved anything big. Sponsors will come when you achieve something global. Keeping in view this thing the PSB should come to the help of federations. The PSB should give written reply to the proposals of the federations regarding their training camps. Unless it writes to them, they will not be satisfied as they need a written guarantee that the Board will back their training camps and foreign tours. A few days ago, the PSB wrote to a federation that it would manage NOC for it while for financial assistance it should contact the relevant provincial government. The federation wants to hold an international event.

Provinces have been seen backing some federations but that support is not enough. We need a system whereby our players could constantly undergo training and get foreign tours.

The federal government cannot force provinces to fund federations. So how will federations convince provinces to fund them?

There are no positives in our sports these days. Unless we have a system for athletes’ development, we will not be able to grow. We have been bringing laurels through individual brilliance. Even our leading athletes spend from their own pockets on their foreign tours and even on their training. In some cases, 80 percent of salaries that players get from their departments is spent on meeting their training and equipment requirements. What will their families do then?

It’s time to correct the system. We have been stuck at one place. There is no hope in the current scenario where we have only seen conflict among sports governing bodies, and nothing else.

73.alam@gmail.com