The general council of the Punjab Olympic Association on Thursday re-elected all its officials unopposed. PbOA President Syed Shahid Ali, Secretary Idris Haider Khawaja, Senior Vice President Iftikhar Ali Malik and Bashir Ahmed Gul retained their positions. The general council of the PbOA met here at Syed Shahid Ali’s office and was participated by 33 affiliated units who once rested faith in the same body for another term. Other officials include six vice presidents Ch Mohamamd Shafiq (handball), Khawaja Mohammad Hassan (athletics), Zoraiz Lashari (swimming), Malik Iftikhar (wushu), Rana Mujahid Ali (hockey) and Parveen Sikandar Gill. Associate secretaries are: Mohamamd Bashir Butt (karate), Mohamamd Yousuf Butt (boxing), Ch Mohammad Rizwan (netball), Sajid Asghar (table tennis) and Mrs Tania Malik. The general council members are Mohamamd Latif Butt, Younis Shafiq Chaudhary, Nawaz Kasuri, Mian Waqar Ahmed, Zubair Butt and Ms Kausar. Speaking on the occasion, Syed Shahid Ali said that the PbOA from its own resources is holding the Inter School and Collegiate Games successfully.
“It is unfortunate that there is very little support from provincial and federal level. We are doing our best for the promotion of sports but without the government support the level can’t be lifted,” he maintained. “The country lacks corporate sector’s interest in sponsoring sports events. The government’s interest towards sports can be gauged from the fact that in the 64 years history of the country, not a single fully furnished sports gymnasium was built,” he observed. He further stated that during the next four years they would try to build a proper structure of sports in the province and encourage people who support sports. In the end Kh Idris announced affiliation for Punjab Ju Jitsu Association with the PbOA.
