Weightlifters to begin training for Asian Games this month

KARACHI: Pakistan’s top weightlifters will assemble for a training camp this month to begin preparations for the Asian Games, penciled in for August 18 to September 2.Pakistan won a couple of bronze medals in the 21st Commonwealth Games in Australia recently.“We have contacted the Pakistan Sports Board (PSB) and this month we will hold the camp for the Asian Games,” a senior official of Pakistan Weightlifting Federation (PWF) told ‘The News’.Asian countries have a number of Olympic and world champions in weightlifting, which make it an uphill task for national weightlifters to win at the biggest stage in Indonesia. But the PWF official said that the best efforts from their weightlifters would be considered a huge success for them.“If a weightlifter improves his standing in Asian Games, it will be of high value for their future,” the official said.Nooh Dastagir Butt (+105kg) and Talha Talib (62kg) recently won bronze in Commonwealth Games in Australia.It is not yet known how many weightlifters will be sent to Indonesia. “It is yet to be decided. We will see the case from various angles before finalising it,” the official said.The official said that PWF needs a foreign coach. “We do need a coach. But a suitable coach will not come here for less than 8000 US dollars which is too high an amount for us. The PSB may not be able to give more than 2500 US dollars, as is laid down in policy,” the official said.

from The News International - Sports https://ift.tt/2JKFtLj