Halting the general decline of sports in Pakistan: An opportunity for a turnaround | Sports

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The ICC Champions Trophy 2025 continues with the top eight international teams participating in the tournament in Pakistan.

More importantly, this mega international program coming to Pakistan eliminates international isolation for many years for the country and reduces many security and other concerns which have led to the teams to meet us. Prevented from

As the chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board said in a statement, “Hosting the Champions Trophy is an important milestone for Pakistan.” It is hoped that more such incidents will begin a new era of opportunities to prosper our sports capabilities through international exhibition and competition.

The re -agreement of international tournaments on home grounds is certainly a good omen for the future of sports and especially the country’s long -missing positive image restoration.

However, we need to review our current sports scenario, so we do not repeat past mistakes and we have been given the ICC mega event and we do not make much place to breathe.

Golden was a time in the 60s and ahead of Pakistan when Pakistan performed well in many important fields. Our bureaucrats were sincere, our industry was progressive with the launch of many dams and mega projects, and our economy was present with countries like South Korea, which used our 5 -year economic development projects to set up their home. Wait

Even our disturbing ‘flag career’ was once proud of our nation and was ranked as the world’s top airline, with the choice of President John F. Kennedy and Queen Elizabeth. It loved it and loved it. It is also completely connected with the winning structure and is connected to each other. The PICL provided sports facilities by employing talented athletes (many of whom continued to be honored for the country). It supported sports players and invested generously in promoting sports like squash, hockey, and cricket locally and internationally. This is an excellent example of support for public private partnerships to promote national capabilities, especially among the youth, a means that contains plenty of resources in Pakistan.

After 1948, by the 1990s, the golden era of Pakistan can be called in sports. It started with the choice of Roshan Khan, Hashim Khan, Jahangir Khan, Qamar Zaman, Mohibullah Khan, and Janashar Khan in the squash world. We were practically incomplete, even the Australian Jeev Hunt’s capacity players were unable to eliminate the great boxes. For example, Jahangir Khan of Pakistan made a record of the longest winning series in squash, where he was unbeaten for five years from 1981 to 1986. In 1992, it was the longest time our sports performances when we came behind to win the ICC world. Cup tournament was held in Australia’s Melbourne.

The Olympic Games are a good step for the country’s international location. Pakistan regularly participates in the summer and winter Olympics (though it never won a medal of any color at the Winter Olympics). Pakistan won 10 medals between the period of 1958-1992 and started well well. But what happened after that is incredible and extremely disturbing, even for the most passionate supporters.

And here is a shocking and understandable negative aspect. From 1992 to 2024, Pakistan went to any program without any medal, not even a bronze medal. Also, he never won the gold medal in the single players event until the Nadim Irshad Jewelen was thrown, winning the gold medal for his country at the Paris Olympics of 2024. The same disturbing fact is that Pakistan took 77 years to win its first gold medal in the individual player category (to date there were only two athletes who won every bronze in the Pakistani player’s category (Mohammad Bashir : Bronze of 1960 bronze in wrestling and Hussein Shah: Bronze in Boxing in 1988).

In the last 2024, when most Pakistani nationals stuck their TV seats to see Nadeem Irshad win the gold, we were surprised to see the 18 -member Pakistani emergency march pass, including only seven athletes and There were 11 officials to monitor them. . In addition, it is also disturbing that Pakistan, which has a population of more than 240 meters, can only fit 7 athletes to compete in the Olympics, while a population of over 5 meters in New Zealand is included in 195 athletes in 22 games. M: 98F): 97 – Reflection of gender equations)

The importance of sports cannot be promoted. It has to be recognized as an integral part of our life. However, in Pakistan, sports have not been provided proper importance or support, which has hurt the youth of the country the most. This is especially because Pakistani youth is a very unused source. According to UNDP, 64 % of the nation is less than 30 and 29 % are between 15 and 29 (also known as ‘Youth Bulge’)) while only seven percent of Pakistani children and young people play. Have access to the field.

In addition, one of these young people is 27 meters out of school, the highest in the world. Many of these children are living in remote areas with no school or playgrounds, thus living without any purpose or guidance. Providing free access to education and sports facilities to these children will certainly make their lives more meaningful and will enable society to strengthen society in which they live. Now, as a nation, we recognize this unused ability and provide infrastructure and opportunities. And flowers. There are many Abdul -Alam Salam, Jahangir Khans and Nadeem Irshads who are just waiting for this opportunity to remove their abilities and positive energy and start participating in the progress and prosperity of this country.

The author, a senior adviser to the Burki Institute of Public Policy in Netsol, is the Institute for Engineering Technology, the Corporate Member of the UK and a Chartered Engineer, UK. From: Rehan30@hotmail.com can be contacted