ISLAMABAD: The Islamabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ICCI) called upon the government to provide more funding for promotion of badminton, as India was providing Rs 100 million annual subsidy for badminton, but Pakistan was providing a meagre subsidy of Rs 1 million.
This was stated by ICCI Senior Vice President Sheikh Pervez Ahmed when the ICCI hosted a reception in honor of Pakistan Badminton Team which has been selected to participate in the 12th South Asian Games 2016 scheduled to commence from February 5, 2016 in India.
The team is consisted of Shabbir Hussain (Captain), Rizwan Azam (Double National Champion since 2006), Kashif Suhleri (Double National Champion since 2010), Ali Murad (5 times single National Champion), Hafiz Irfan (current Rank No.1), Azeem Sarwar (current Rank No.3) Sara Mohammad (Double Champion since 2010), Saima Waqas, Khizra, Sidra and Sehar.
Speaking at the occasion, Sheikh Pervez Ahmed, congratulated the team members on their selection in Pakistan Badminton Team and hoped they all players would perform their best in the 12th South Asian Games 2016. He said players were the diplomats of Pakistan in sports arena they should put in their best efforts for earning good name for the country.
He said Indian badminton team was playing 20-25 tournaments per year while Pakistani badminton team played hardly 3-4 tournaments annually. He stressed that government should cooperate with the Pakistan Badminton Federation in organizing more tournaments so that our players could groom their talent and bring more laurels for the country.
ICCI Vice President Sheikh Abdul Waheed also addressed the players and assured that business community was ready to cooperate for promotion of supports activities as sporting events not only developed national unity, they always generated lot of business and industrial activities.
The South Asian Games, a multi-sport event, is the regional Games of the Olympic Council of Asia. Since it was first hosted by Kathmandu, Nepal in the year 1984, except for few occasions the event is taking place every alternate year. This mega multi-national sports event is held among the athletes of the South Asian countries in various locations across the region. The event is presently joined by the eight South Asian countries namely Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka. The event is unique in itself as it promotes sports with a view to boost up the team spirit as well as an amiable relationship between the South Asian countries.
