Pakistan TOA team seek govt help

 Pakistan TOA team, silver medalists of the World TOA Championship, urged the government of Pakistan and corporate sector to come forward and assist them for the participation in upcoming international events so that they may earn more laurels for the country.
Pakistan TOA team consisted of Zahir Hussain Sarwari (team head), Habib Ullah Jaffari (coach), Irum Shahzadi (player) and Fareed Hussain (player) participated in the World TOA Championship in Shiraz City, Iran from Nov 6 to 12 and had the great hounor of securing the second position among the 43 international countries by clinching two silver medals.
It is pertinent to mention here that the Pak team participated in the event without any support from government or sponsor rather went for the event on their own expenses and returned home with earning second position with silver medals.
The championship was hosted by Iran Kung Fu Federation in which as many as 43 countries from Asia, Europe, South and North America participated while a 27-member contingent of Pak players were invited but the Pak TOA Association named 14-member contingent for the event. Later, when the players heard that they would go to take part on their own expenses, all refused to appear in the event but four patriots came forward to represent country on their own expenses. The players were Fareed Hussain from Lahore and Irum from Attock.
Talking to this scribe, Irum said she was thankful to her organization Pakistan Ordnance Factories who helped her to represent Pakistan. "I am hopeful the POF will continue supporting me in the upcoming events and I will try my best to earn more laurels," she added.
It is was awkward that the players who raise flag of the country are now worried about their participation in the upcoming events as they were invited by three countries to take part in their international events. Due to lack of finance as well govt interest towards these silver medalists, they will be deprived of representing the country. It is the need of the hour that govt and corporate sector should come forward to assist them financially.