The Asian Games take place every year. This year the games are called Jakarta Palembang and are being piloted in the Indonesian cities of Jakarta and Palembang. These are a pan-Asian multisport event to be held from August 18th to September 2nd.
However, this year Pakistan’s official team has refused to participate claiming that they were never provided with adequate funding from the government. As a result of the shortfall, the team states to be under-prepared.
This decision has had a deep impact on the Pakistan Hockey Federation and has occurred in the middle of a financial crisis. The PHF also stated and reinforced that the government refused to fund the sports body in the previous years that has led to the team’s inability to participate in the prestigious games.
It was also reported that the matter was brought to the government and several appeals were made for funds to be provided. A grant of rupees 200 million was demanded which was allegedly denied.
In an interview, Olympian Hasan Sardar and the team manager stated that the government’s lack of interest in the game and its well-being had disappointed the team greatly.
It is disappointing that Pakistan, a country with such immense talent is being deprived of taking part in a competition because of administrative insufficiency of the government. Depriving the country’s team of funding just goes to show where the sincerity and priorities of the government officials lie.
It also denies them the ability to contribute to Pakistan’s greater good at an international level.
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