PWF in a fix over sending players to international events

KARACHI: Pakistan Weightlifting Federation (PWF) on Monday revealed that around Rs9 million would be required if they were to field their weightlifters in the six vital international events this year.“We will need at least Rs.9million if we are to send our weightlifters to the six events which would be held this year,” the official told ‘The News’.With the state yet to release annual grant to the federations for the financial year 2018-19 the PWF is in a fix how to send its players to international events. “It’s really a big issue. You know we have not received even our annual grant for the current financial year. We have already spent Rs1.4 million from our own pocket for sending weightlifters to an international event recently. It raises our debt and this is a big issue for us,” the official said.The financial issue has also put Pakistan’s participation in the Asian Championships in utter danger.“If we send two players and two officials for the Asian Championships in China in April it will cost us Rs1million which is not easy if you pay from you own pocket or borrow from any other person for the purpose as you think who will pay them back,” the official said.The Asian Championships will be held in Ningbo, China, from April 18 to 28. “China’s return ticket is Rs148,000,” the official was quick to add.“We have sent five to six entries for the Asian Championships. I think we will have to take on board all our target weightlifters and let them know about the financial issues so that in case of any issue in future the players don’t blame us,” the official said.The official was quick to add that the Asian Championships was very important. “It’s a very important event on international calendar and we will try our level best to field our players in it,” the official said.Pakistan’s key weightlifters Nooh Dastgeer Butt and Talha Talib have the potential to impress in the continental event.Besides the Asian Championships, Commonwealth Senior and Junior Championships, Commonwealth Youth Championships, World Championships, Asian Junior Championships and Asian Youth Championships are the events in which Pakistan would have to feature this year.

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