Photo: dawn.com
Whenever we listen or heard the word "Olympics", suddenly a variety of sports comes in our mind. Similarly Rio Olympics 2016, It is the leading and foremost event Internationally in which more than 200 nations are participating.
Reviewing the most popular sentence of our National Sports history. Pakistan won the hockey World Cup... This is the line probably you have heard from your elders or in news channel or by any other source. In addition you had also heard the famous glimpse of Pakistan in sports world at that time.
Today in 2016, when Rio Olympics is going to start from 5th August 2016, Apart from seven wild card entries which includes Judo, Swimming and shooting competition you will be sad to know that there is no Olympian who is representing Pakistan in Rio games. And the most embarrassing moment is that for the first time in the history of Pakistan sports, National Hockey Team has failed to qualify for the Olympics. Those who are participating have gone through difficult scenario.
Being delayed by Government for the purpose of No Objection Certificate (N.O.C) the contingent of 7 people and 10 officials are now finally decided to participate in Rio games which seems strange when officials are more than players.
Lets talk about or golden past, From Olympian Samiullah famously known as "flying horse" to Sohail Abbas. Our stats of hockey sums up under these two names. It is hard to believe that a nation who had secured 8 out of 10 gold medals in hockey, won hockey World Cup more than thrice times is no more participant of summer games 2016.
From the era of most renowned Jahangir Khan and Jansher Khan. These two's when came in arena beat their contenders with mentally blockages and their pure skills. And the only other's two are Bashir Khan who had won bronze medal in Men's freestyle welterweight at Rome Olympics 1960 followed by Hussain Shah who had won in boxing at Seoul Olympics 1988.
The above story is stating that once Pakistan prided itself on producing extraordinary athletes like Jahangir khan, Jansher khan who held the record of winning most number of matches consecutively. Pakistan once made its name appeared on the most sports loving nation but it's has become the part of our past. The whole entire World depends on particular day.
It is so disgusting that a nation of almost 200 million people failed to produce an athlete for Summer games 2016. Equally disappointing in the state of squash in Pakistan. There is no two opinion about the fact that where terrorism caused breakdown of International games in our ground our sporting authorities are equally responsible for this remarkable decline. Due to this people becomes less excited as far as the Olympic games are concerned, except cricket which remains highly popular.
Let me understand you by giving a recent example. A story of Olympian turned Rickshaw driver of Lahore was posted in DAWN. Muhammad Ashiq of Lahore who represented Pakistan in 1960 and 1964 Olympics has shared his story of lamentations and agony. He said " I started my career as a boxer but after change it into cycling when my wife complained about injuries, I just recall that I have shaken hands with former Pakistani Prime Minister, Presidents, Executives etc". He now drive Rickshaw and summed PKR 400 as daily wages. He used to hang his medal in his Rickshaw and shared his story with passengers when they ask about it and warns never to take part in sports. This remind us the famous quote of U.S President “Nations and states who forget their heroes can never be prosperous.”
In my opinion, the biggest reason for the downfall of sports in Pakistan is lack of Government funding, attention and vision. When Government paying almost no attention to nurturing talented players and providing them sporting facilities and proper criteria, there is no other option to become an athlete and represent Pakistan at International level. More importantly, the biggest concern is our National sport's budget which is lowest in South Asia, less than that of Sri Lanka, Bangladesh which came into being by splitting of Pakistan and even Afghanistan.
Private sector is not excited in investing in sports other than cricket. Apologetically ground realities are totally different. The infrastructure of cricket ground is totally missing. Cricket grounds are not in under construction anywhere. The condition of existing cricket grounds is not even bad or worse, its worst.Let's talk about the imbued of Karachi, cricket grounds are located at about a distance of almost 1 kilometer or more than it. Some substituted in the house of tailing while others converted in an arrogate property by influential persons. This is the condition of our only popular game which let the whole nation united under one flag.
In dilapidated gyms and depraved sports field, Pakistani athletes used to give these type of facilities with outdated equipment's and old method of training which makes difficult and nearly impossible to make competition against foreign competitors who adhere scientific based modern techniques.
Their sports federation can't be able to afford good coaches who possessed advance techniques and modern training plans. With this wept of sports federation athletes are truly heartbroken and frustrated because they have been teaching, what they taught 30 years back.
On the other hand our neighboring country and our nearest rival "India" is investing alot on sports and trying to utilize their talent on foreign level which is good and a source to appreciate. They used to organize football leagues, Pro-kabaddi league in which national icons take step ahead and become a source of promotion of their leagues. They deliberately telecast their sports event with excellent discipline and raise awareness through perfect marketing among citizens before its beginning. The recent example of their sports act is futsal premier league which is an indoor football game organised by Indian investors. They had featured star footballers like Ryan Giggs (Manchester United), famous Brazil player Ronaldhino and other to evolve the charm of this tournament to remain sports live in their lives.
No athlete qualified in Rio Olympics should be a wake up call for Government and respective federations. The grass root system is almost non existent. Sporting authorities should rarely play their part and make sure to organize such events which provide them healthy activities and create skills. In addition they should create a skill performance camp in order to capitalize their talent. Because without infrastructure a lot can be done, but without techniques no one can win.
Perhaps, Pakistan is a sports loving nation. Sports is its identity, neither train nor metro buses. We should start preparation of our inexperienced contingent with advance skills on the base of their potential, spirit so that they can represent Pakistan in respective time frame setting target of 2020 Olympics. All i can do is hope that our Government notice and take steps on emergency basis which is quite unbelievable because the Nation's civilization can be recognized bu their sport's skill. I hope Government one day will take notice but till that one day we shouldn't waste our time and try to do travel in metro buses.
