REAR Admiral (r) Waheed Bhombal passed away recently, having lived a full and very rewarding life no doubt. I had the privilege of interacting with him in 1980 and 1981 when he was senior vice president of the Pakistan Squash Federation while serving as chairman the PNSC.

Two instances bear special mention and warrant sharing. In 1980 the game of squash turned professional and, as hosts of the premier national event the Pakistan Open, we at the Karachi Squash Association were hard pushed to find a sponsor who would take the prize money from the existing princely amount of Rs2,500, which the Pakistan Amateur title winner received,

to a sum worthy of Pakistan's top world ranking in squash in those days.

Adm. Bhombal did not blink an eyelid when we audaciously mentioned a sum of Rs100,000! And authorised the amount instantly, with the PNSC assuming the honours of becoming the title sponsor of the first-ever Pakistan Open in 1980.

It took a man of vision and courage to appreciate the big picture. I dare say Adm. Bhombal and the PNSC were rewarded for their initiative with a priceless final that saw Jahangir Khan, the then 'imposter' prince, putting out in a gruelling five-setter the undisputed king and magician of squash, Qamar Zaman. That was Jahangir's first triumph over Qamar. Thereafter, Jahangir consolidated his hold on the Pakistan Open title in no uncertain manner.

The other instance was even more remarkable and took place in 1981 when Adm. Bhombal came to the rescue of the Pakistan team, comprising Jahangir Khan, Qamar Zaman, Maqsood Ahmad and Daulat Khan, visiting Sweden to take part in the World Team Championships.

I had the privilege of accompanying the team as its chef de mission and manager. It was an extensive tour that would last six weeks, with preliminary league matches organised all over Sweden in Malmo Jonkoping, Lingkoping and Gavle, with the main draw in Stockholm.

While hotel accommodation was provided by the host Swedish SRA, each team had to bear its own food, laundry and other bills. Given that Sweden was one of the most expensive countries of the world at the time, and probably still is, my investigations had yielded a sum of $100 per day per person as necessary to get by with moderate ease. By the time this finding of mine had been processed through the Pakistan Squash Federation, Pakistan Sports Board and the Ministry of Finance, it had been reduced to $20 per day per person.

Sure enough the budgeted sum ran out within the first few days of our arriving in Sweden. Pakistan was the top seeded team, and expected to dine in the five-star Championship Hotel's restaurant where the media awaited our arrival every night as we slunk out the back door to have our meals at fast food restaurants. In desperation I telexed Adm. Bhombal “Pakistan team on starvation diet. Ready to throw in the towel even before the contest has begun.”

The next night I received a call from the PNSC agent in Malmo. Help was on its way. He turned up with a fistful of high denomination dollars that enabled us to spend the rest of the tour with the dignity and style expected of the best squash players in the world. Jahangir at the time was world No 1, Qamar No. 2, Maqsood No. 4 and Daulat No. 7. We made short work of the Aussies in the final, and brought back the World Cup to Pakistan and Adm. Bhombal.

When people ask why the standard of sports has fallen in the country, the first reason that comes to mind is that the country has stopped producing selfless patrons who possess the vision and courage to take timely decisions in support of the players. Rear Admiral (r ) Waheed Bhombal was one such patron. May Allah rest his soul in peace.

ADIL AHMAD Karachi