LAHORE: Punjab athletes are likely to finish rock bottom in the forthcoming National Games that commence at Peshawar on December 25, as their training camps have not yet started.
Punjab Olympics Association secretary Khwaja Idris Haider said that the training camps of Punjab teams have not yet been started by the Sports department due to their non-cooperative attitude. “It is surprising that the secretary (Punjab Sports department) has issued letters to the presidents and secretaries of the provincial associations, directing them to set up training camps and simultaneously informing them that the expenditure will be borne by the Punjab Olympic Association. “This direction of the Secretary Sports is ridiculous and in no way is justified,” he said.
He further added: “It is the moral duty of the Sports Department to provide financial aid to the Punjab Olympic Association, whereas the Secretary Sports intends to put unjustified financial burden on the PbOA. “It appears that the Sports Department is not familiar with the structure and basic requirements of sports. “We have brought the negative role of the Sports Department to the notice of the Chief Minister, as the behavior of the Secretary Sports is detrimental to the interest of sports,” he concluded.
