Squash players land in China amid dressing problems
GUANGZHOU, Nov 16 A nine-member Pakistan squash team, dressed in national colour blazers, landed at the Canton International Airport here on Tuesday but with much dismay as trousers of few players got damaged because of 'poor stitching'.
“My trousers are all ripped from pockets because they are not tailored according to my height,” said Pakistan's leading junior squash player Danish Atlas.
A 237-member Pakistan contingent was given green blazers and brown trousers, but of 'poor quality'. The players have forwarded a complaint to the chef de mission, who happens to be the federal Sports Minister, Aijaz Hussain Jakhrani.
An official said on the condition of anonymity, “The government has spent almost Rs4.4 million alone on the dressing of the national contingent, including their tracksuits.”
“Just look at the stitching, it's poorly tailored, my pocket is damaged and I was not even provided with a belt for my trousers,” said Danish.
During the four-hour flight from Islamabad airport to Thailand, he said, “I have no option but to get hold of my trousers which are not fit according to my height.”
The situation, he said, was no different when we flew from Thailand airport to the Canton Airport.
Danish, 17, also a nephew of world champion Jansher Khan, pointed out “I gave my dress size in June this year for an international assignment [World Junior Championship] and that too was taken by a tailor who visited us at the Pakistan Sports Complex Squash Excellence Centre.”
According to a Pakistan Squash Federation official, the tailor was given a contract for stitching blazers and pants for four junior players in June this year.
“I was never asked by any of the Pakistan Sports Board's official for paying a visit to their tailor to provide him with an accurate dress size, it was instead forwarded by my federation to the sports board,” he said.
“I am wearing my brother's [Aamir Atlas Khan's] blazer because the one given by the PSB was unfit and very tight from shoulders,” said Danish, justifying that their suits were not according to international standard.
Even few female players accompanying the squash squad lashed out at the federal Sports Ministry calling on federal government authorities to take notice of poor clothing “It's badly stitched.”
“We were provided with the same shoes which were given to the male players,” said Saima Shaukat, Pakistan No.2 female squash player.
Meanwhile, no official from the PSB or the Ministry was available for comments at the Games Village.