LAHORE: The Pakistan Olympic Association (POA) greeted its president retired Lt Gen Syed Arif Hasan on his re election as the vice president of the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) at the continental Olympic body’s general assembly Bangkok on Sunday.

Arif is one of the five zonal vice presidents of the OCA and has been elected unopposed for the South Asian zone which comprises Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka. “It was under his dynamic leadership, that the Olympic Movement of Pakistan secu­red autonomy as is envisaged in the Olym­pic Charter,” said POA secretary general Mohammad Khalid Mahmood.

Mahmood said he and the entire Olympic family of Pakistan are ‘proud of his achievement’.

Meanwhile, Arif expre­ssed his gratitude to the entire Asian Olympic fraternity and in particular he thanked president OCA Sheikh Ahmad Al Fahad Al Sabah, who was unanimously re-elected for the position.

Arif said POA is delighted at Sheikh Ahmad’s re-election and wishes him the very best for the future.

Published in Dawn, March 4th, 2019