Pakistan’s 75 member squad backs Aisam-ul-Haq to inspire at the Commonwealth Games
After a string of great performances at the US Open, Aisam is considered to be the source of inspiration for all the athletes that will be representing Pakistan at the Commonwealth Games in New Delhi. The Pakistani nation is expecting performances of the
same calibre as those of Aisam from the athletes who will be playing at the Indian capital from the 4th to the 13th of October. Pakistani players will be participating in seven sports that include squash, tennis, wrestling, shooting,
hockey, boxing and weightlifting. The team will be departing for New Delhi on the 29th of September from Lahore while two officials will leave on Monday from Karachi.
It is expected that the Pakistani contingent will win more medals than they did in Melbourne where the entire squad managed to win one gold, three silvers and one bronze medal.
Pakistan's weightlifting coach Rashid Mehmood expressed his confidence that the squad has the ability to succeed. When questioned about doping, Mehmood opined that Pakistani athletes went through strenuous training and have been tested for most drugs. He
added that all the blood tests were negative and that the champions are and will be eating nothing but the food and supplements allowed by the International Weightlifting Federation.
As for the security arrangements, Rashid explained that it is expected that the delegates from Pakistan will not be allowed to move freely in the country due to tense relations between India and Pakistan but he wished that the Games would end on a happy
note and they would return home safely. The President of the Pakistan Sports Board, Amir Hamza Gilani said that the government is ready to take all measures if the team is feeling insecure about their tour to Delhi. The winner of the gold medal in the weightlifting
event in Melbourne 2006, Shujuauddin Malik is confident of winning gold in the 94 kg category. Officials accompanying the weightlifting team will include coach Rashid Mahmood and assistant coach Ilyas Butt.
Keeping in view the frosty relations between the two countries, the Pakistani government has dispatched federal police official Ahmad Mukarram to review the security conditions in India before the Commonwealth Games. Pakistan will be requiring some special
security arrangements due to a plethora of reasons. As per apprehensions shown by some countries over the Games Village and the safety of the delegates, President of the Pakistan Olympic Association Arif Hasan clarified that safety of the delegates will be
their first priority and the pre-Games situation is being closely monitored by the officials of the Pakistan Olympic Association.
Ever since the preparations for the Commonwealth Games have been in the pipeline, the Organizing Committee has faced a tremendous amount of criticism and confrontation. Several countries have shown their serious concerns over the security and safety situation
in the country especially after the bridge that collapsed near the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium. The terrorist attack on two Taiwanese tourists near a mosque in Delhi has added fuel to the fire regarding the security situation in the country.
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh made a visit to the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium about a week ago to take notice of the infrastructure and the facilities that will be provided to the athletes and visitors who will fly to India for the Commonwealth Games. The chief
of the Commonwealth Games Federation Mike Fennell also visited the much criticised Games Village along with the Chairman of the 2010 Commonwealth Organizing Committee, Suresh Kalmadi on Saturday. After visiting the Games Village and keeping in mind the complaints
lodged by the international community, Mike said that some work was still pending.
All the participants, visitors, and chef de missions have their fingers crossed and want the Games to be a success.
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