AFP to hold trials for Asian Games camp

KARACHI: Athletics Federation of Pakistan (AFP) plans to hold trials in Islamabad on May 13 to pick athletes for the Asian Games camp.A senior official of AFP said that trials would be conducted in most of the events. “We plan to hold trials in most of the events,” the AFP chief Maj Gen (retd) Akram Sahi told ‘The News’ on Monday. The AFP has sent names of the probable athletes and officials to the Pakistan Olympic Association (POA) for the quadrennial event to be held in Indonesian cities of Jakarta and Palembang from August 18 to September 2.It is not yet confirmed how many athletes will be representing Pakistan in the Asiad.It will depend on the Pakistan Sports Board (PSB) and POA how much quota they give to the AFP. Barring a few decades after independence in which national athletes made their presence felt in athletics at the Asian level, competitions at the continental level have been a tough task for national athletes.Although women athletes are not capable of winning at this level but the AFP hopes that it can create some chances in the men’s javelin throw, men’s 400m and men’s 4x400m relay in Indonesia.“Our javelin thrower Arshad Nadeem and some athletes in 400m and in 4x400m relay will be our strong points in the Asian Games,” said Sahi, a former international athlete.Arshad recently recorded throw of his life by registering 80.45m in the qualification phase of the Commonwealth Games in Australia last month.But Arshad, who had injured his back muscle in the first round, failed to repeat the performance in the finals at the Carrara Stadium in Gold Coast. But still he showed his class and the AFP plans to focus on him.“Arshad, no doubt, has potential to win. I will meet him in a few days and will check how he feels now and will then plan to prepare him properly for the Asian Games. If he still has any injury issue we will treat it,” Sahi said.Arshad could have finished at the victory podium in Australia had he got the services of a coach. Olympian Mehboob Ali and his brother Nokar Hussain will be in the spotlight in 400m, 400m hurdles and 4x400m relay in Indonesia.Pakistan claimed gold in 4x400m relay in the Asian Indoor and Martial Arts Games in Ashgabat last year. Earlier the same year, Pakistan had clinched silver in 4x400m relay in the Islamic Games in Baku.Sahi on Monday conveyed to the Army Chief his message through the Army Sports Directorate that it would be useful if a foreign coach was hired for the relay side which carries Army’s athletes.“I have conveyed the message today and I hope Army Chief will take the much needed step of hiring a foreign coach for the relay side which belongs to Army,” Sahi revealed. He was quick to add that efforts would also be made to send a few youngsters to Indonesia for exposure. “We plan to send some youngsters also to the Asian Games as playing at a big platform will build their confidence which will help them in future,” the AFP chief said.Javelin thrower Arshad said that he would recover in ten days. “I don’t feel pain when I walk. I hope I will overcome the injury within ten days,” Arshad told this correspondent from Mian Channu.“Had I not received injury in Australia I could have fought for the medal. I am determined to do something stunning for my country. And I will try my best to give top performance in Asian Games,” said Arshad, who plays for WAPDA.He also gave his thumbs up for Pakistan’s 4x400m relay side. “Our relay team is strong and we have a chance in that in Asian Games,” the 2016 India South Asian Games and 2016 Vietnam Asian Junior Championships bronze medallist said.

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