NEW DELHI: Controversy has erupted in Pakistan’s sporting group round a gala dinner hosted by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif in honour of Olympic javelin champion Arshad Nadeem.
A number of former hockey Olympians have publicly expressed their discontent, alleging that their invites to the occasion have been rescinded on the final minute because of “visitor administration” points.
Rao Saleem Nazim, a former Olympian and head of the previous Pakistan hockey gamers discussion board, revealed that quite a few hockey stalwarts obtained invites and subsequent e-mail confirmations from the Prime Minister’s Home.
“The PM Home had despatched invites to a number of hockey stalwarts to attend the operate they usually all bought emails confirming their invites. However on the final second many people bought a message from the PM secretariat that since they have been discovering it tough to regulate the variety of visitors, the invites had been withdrawn,” Rao stated.
This abrupt reversal has sparked outrage among the many affected athletes, who understand it as an indication of disrespect in direction of their contributions to Pakistan‘s sporting legacy. Rao questioned the optics of honouring an Olympic gold medalist whereas concurrently sidelining people who’ve secured a number of Olympic medals for the nation in hockey.
“Is that this the way you present respect to gamers who’ve introduced not one however a number of Olympic medals in hockey for the nation?” he added.
He highlighted the stark distinction by referencing Pakistan’s final Olympic gold medal, received by the nationwide hockey group in 1983, and the bronze medal secured in the identical sport in 1992, marking the nation’s final Summer time Video games medal.
The incident has ignited a debate in regards to the remedy of former athletes and the perceived hierarchy inside Pakistani sports activities.
Whereas Arshad Nadeem’s historic achievement deserves celebration, the controversy underscores the necessity for sensitivity and inclusivity when recognizing sporting accomplishments, notably in a nation grappling with a decline in its once-dominant hockey program.
A number of former hockey Olympians have publicly expressed their discontent, alleging that their invites to the occasion have been rescinded on the final minute because of “visitor administration” points.
Rao Saleem Nazim, a former Olympian and head of the previous Pakistan hockey gamers discussion board, revealed that quite a few hockey stalwarts obtained invites and subsequent e-mail confirmations from the Prime Minister’s Home.
“The PM Home had despatched invites to a number of hockey stalwarts to attend the operate they usually all bought emails confirming their invites. However on the final second many people bought a message from the PM secretariat that since they have been discovering it tough to regulate the variety of visitors, the invites had been withdrawn,” Rao stated.
This abrupt reversal has sparked outrage among the many affected athletes, who understand it as an indication of disrespect in direction of their contributions to Pakistan‘s sporting legacy. Rao questioned the optics of honouring an Olympic gold medalist whereas concurrently sidelining people who’ve secured a number of Olympic medals for the nation in hockey.
“Is that this the way you present respect to gamers who’ve introduced not one however a number of Olympic medals in hockey for the nation?” he added.
He highlighted the stark distinction by referencing Pakistan’s final Olympic gold medal, received by the nationwide hockey group in 1983, and the bronze medal secured in the identical sport in 1992, marking the nation’s final Summer time Video games medal.
The incident has ignited a debate in regards to the remedy of former athletes and the perceived hierarchy inside Pakistani sports activities.
Whereas Arshad Nadeem’s historic achievement deserves celebration, the controversy underscores the necessity for sensitivity and inclusivity when recognizing sporting accomplishments, notably in a nation grappling with a decline in its once-dominant hockey program.
