Web Desk: Pakistan’s wrestling team will not be competing in the World Wrestling Championship, scheduled to take place from September 13 to 21 in Croatia.
The primary reason for their absence is a critical shortage of funds and the inability to hold essential training camps. According to international regulations, participation in the World Championship is contingent upon competing in the Asian Championship, an event the Pakistani team was forced to skip in March for the very same financial reasons.
Sources within the Pakistan Wrestling Federation have confirmed that the wrestlers were unable to travel for the Asian Championship due to a lack of timely funding for camps and travel expenses.
This setback not only disheartened the athletes but also prevented them from demonstrating their skills on a global stage. The incident has raised serious questions about the state of sports administration and funding systems within the country.
The Federation's Secretary, Inam Butt, expressed regret over the situation and outlined plans to avoid similar issues in the future. "We will do our best to ensure our participation in the Asian Wrestling Championship next year, come what may, and we will take all necessary steps to secure the required funds," he said.
Inam Butt also mentioned that the federation would request assistance from the Pakistan Sports Board to facilitate the organization of training camps.
The wrestlers' inability to compete at the world level is a significant loss for the country and a reflection of the low priority given to sports at the governmental level.
This incident underscores a vital lesson: without consistent support from the government and relevant institutions, the dream of representing the nation and achieving international success remains out of reach.
