M A I N   N E W S

Lack of support driving Pak kabaddi players overseas
Rachna Khaira
Tribune News Service

No corporate help Absence of help from the corporate sector has made life of kabaddi players very difficult in Pakistan Though the Pakistan government is trying to accommodate players in various departments, the opportunities are limited As a result, players often head for foreign shores so that they could pursue their game and sustain their families

Jalandhar, December 3
The avenues for kabaddi players are limited in Pakistan. Although the government there has been trying hard to support players by accommodating them in various departments, there is virtually no help from the corporate sector.

The result: Players often head for foreign shores so that they could pursue their game and sustain their families, too. The situation is no better for many other sports.

This was revealed by Pakistani players participating in the World Cup Kabaddi here. “We have very little corporate support for our game. Kabaddi players have to struggle very hard to sustain their game and earn livelihood. Even the number of government departments providing jobs to players is very small,” said Babar Gujjar, captain of the Pakistan Kabaddi Team who works for the Water and Power Development Authority of Pakistan (WAPDA).

Absence of corporate support was hitting the sporting talent hard, he added. Absence of well maintained grounds, adequate number of qualified coaches and fewer tournaments are generally blamed on lack of support from potential sponsors.

Many Pakistani players have joined kabaddi clubs in the UK, Canada and the USA. The team, however, maintained the scenario had been changing slowly. “The government is pushing corporate houses hard to fund sports and accommodate potential players in jobs,” players said.

“International tournaments are now being hosted in Pakistan and our sportsmen have also started going abroad to compete in reputed tournaments. We are hopeful that the country’s sports arena will don a new look over the next few years,” said Prof Malik Safdar Ali, technical adviser of the Pakistan team. As regards the World Cup Kabaddi, Pakistani players said they had been facing difficulties due to strict security cover put in place around them.

“We are totally cut off from our country and families. The wi-fi network inside the hotel is switched off. Neither we have been provided any SIM cards, nor are we allowed to make calls to Pakistan from the hotel. We are also not allowed to move out of the hotel premises. Our families don’t even know whether we are alive in India or not. At least, we should be allowed to make one call each to our families back home,” said Kashif Riaz, a player.