Arshad Nadeem’s triumph at the 2024 Olympics was no small feat, especially for a country that had not won an Olympic medal since 1992 and only has two individual medals in its entire history (boxer Hussain Shah in 1988 and wrestler Mohammad Bashir in 1960).

Arshad overcame every obstacle that stood in his way, and this is a story of mind over matter more than anything else. He was born in Mian Chunnu, a remote village in Southern Punjab that still struggles with gas supply, education and electricity problems in 2024. He didn’t have the requisite support from the government or the Athletics Federation in the same manner that his friendly rival Neeraj Chopra did across the border.

But that’s exactly it. Arshad wasn’t supposed to win an Olympic gold medal, but he willed it into being with sheer force.

The main question now is, where does Pakistan go from here? Will we rely on the unwavering spirit of individuals such as Arshad, or will we reform our sports system to produce results on a regular basis?

While the willpower required on behalf of the government is the starting point, there are a number of key areas that need to be addressed in order to start sports development in Pakistan. I shortlist four of them, which can kickstart the process and will result in most chips falling into place.

Will we keep relying on the unwavering spirit of individuals such as Arshad Nadeem, or will we reform our sports system to produce results on a regular basis?

Create a Unified Sports Policy

Pakistan’s Sports Policy dates back to 2005, and has become outdated with changes to the country’s Constitution and practical realities. The 18th Amendment is the biggest implication here, as sports is essentially a national subject that has been devolved down to the provincial level and is being managed by the Inter-Provincial Coordination (IPC) ministry.

This is a major hurdle in developing sports and a newer policy needs to be developed, taking all stakeholders into consideration, including provinces and sports federations, the latter of which are treated in quite a hostile manner currently.

No one would disagree that the sports federations aren’t run professionally in the country and have become hotbeds for long-serving officials, who are keen to enjoy the global perks but do little to develop the sport itself. However, as seen in 2014, the Government of Pakistan was forced to backtrack on its hostile takeover of the Pakistan Olympic Association (POA) and had to sign an agreement with the International Olympic Association (IOC) in Lausanne, Switzerland.

The crux of the issue was that the National Sports Policy had a term limit of two tenures (four years each) for federations’ office-holders, which contradicts most global sports, where tenure limitations don’t apply. This indicates a lack of understanding of the way governing bodies around the world work and that will always put you on a collision course with their local affiliated bodies.

Tenure limitations will not work but you can get sports federations on board with the government and work closely with them, but this requires a carrot rather than a stick approach. Offer funds for development, competitions and administrative areas to federations, but make it subject to progress and measurable Key Performance Indicators (KPIs).

This carrot can be dangled in front of federations, who would be able to acquire funds for administrative as well as sporting purposes, but would have to voluntarily agree with the entire sports policy.

Addressing these areas in a comprehensive manner is the key to solving sports at policy level and it is a fundamental step if we are to ensure sports progression in any manner.

Reform the Pakistan Sports Board (PSB)

Until the regulator itself goes through much needed changes, developing sports is a futile exercise. A similar approach to the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) — in terms of governance — needs to be adopted, which will allow for a governing council and direct appointments by the prime minister.

Secondly, the PSB needs to be changed into a modern, functioning organisation that isn’t bound by the red tape that every government department faces. This means effectively getting rid of everyone involved and starting afresh with open hiring practices, free from bureaucratic transfers or limitations.

The government also needs to take this a step further and simply hand-off all PSB assets directly to the revamped organisation with complete control, so they can maintain and commercialise them.

At times, government bureaucrats baulk at the idea of commercialisation and marketing when it comes to sport, but this is the 21st century, and the PSB must have a roadmap for generating funds itself, apart from receiving funding from the government.

Establish a Reverse Funding Mechanism

With the 18th Amendment, sports devolved to a provincial subject and funding has dropped considerably at the national level, with only 1.9 billion rupees being spent by the PSB in the last budget, while Punjab alone has allocated over 50 billion rupees for sports in the 2024-25 budget.

Keeping in mind the economic situation in the country and the priority of sports in a society like Pakistan, an easier solution could be reverse funding from the provinces. A manageable formula can be developed that would increase the PSB’s operating budget and won’t put a massive strain nationally either.

Create an Elite Medal Fund

The easiest way to ensure that Pakistan will end up on the podium is to back those athletes that have the ability. This means that the PSB needs to pick up the entire tab of costs, ranging from international competition participation to dietary needs for our elite athletes, including stars such as Arshad Nadeem.

With regular funding and the ability to prepare sorted, the medal tally will start going up in a matter of years.

Solving sports issues in Pakistan isn’t rocket science. It has been done around the world. All it requires is willpower, vision and the right people on the job.

The writer is a sports management and marketing expert. X: @shahrukhsohail7

Published in Dawn, EOS, September 1st, 2024