ISLAMABAD: Pakistan's 25-member ski contingent, along with other countries of the region, is likely to participate in the inaugural South Asian Winter Games scheduled to be staged in India from January 7 to 19, has learnt from a federal sports official.
According to the details, the first South Asian Winter Games are being staged in the north Indian state of Uttarakhand, whose hilly spots are known for tourist attraction.Besides the host country, other SAF nations — Pakistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, the Maldives, Nepal and Sri Lanka would also show their mettle at the Games.
The skiing event, the official said, would be held at the hill station of Auli.
Apart from skiing, contests of ice skating and ice hockey would also be held at the Games.
“[The process of] obtaining the No Objection Certificate for the 25 members of the skiing party is in progress and the Sports Ministry will only issue an NOC after getting travelling clearance from the Interior Ministry and the Foreign Office,” the sports official stated.
Meanwhile, Air Marshal Tahir Rafique, President of the Ski Federation of Pakistan (SFP), expressed his organisation's desire to send the skiers to participate in the South Asian Winter Games in India.
“We are willing to appear in the first South Asian Winter Games. However, our contingent's smooth travelling is connected with the approval to be given by the federal government,” Tahir said.
“An invitation has been received by the federation and all the regional countries are likely to appear in the Winter Games. I can't comment over the number of players travelling with the contingent; it may be five or twenty-five, it all depends on the federal government's approval,” he added.
On the other hand, the federal sports official said they would issue an NOC to the contingent after fulfilling the requisites required for Pakistan players and officials for travelling to India.
Over Pakistan skiers' safety in India, he said: “The responsibility to provide security to a [sporting] contingent stays with the host nation [India]. However, they can also get an input over security from their High Commission officials based in New Delhi.”
He added that the contingent, after completion of all the travelling formalities, would leave for India from Lahore on January 5.
Pakistan has a lot of emerging skiers especially from departments like the Pakistan Air Force (PAF), Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) and Army besides a few other departments.
Abbas is one of them who secured the 79th position (out of 103) clocking 3min, 20.58sec in the main event of the 2010 Winter Olympics held in Vancouver. Abbas was 42.75sec behind the leader at that time, showing the skier has the ability to improve in contests at the regional level.
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