Pakistan athletes allowed to compete in CWG by Lahore court

Karachi: Pakistani athletes heaved a sigh of relief after the Lahore High Court today allowed them to take part in the Commonwealth Games, which begin next week in Glasgow, Scotland.

The participation of the country`s athletes in CWG was in serious doubt after the Lahore High Court suspended the Pakistan Olympic Association, led by General (retd) Arif Hasan, and also put aside the contingent finalised by Pakistan Sports Board. But, after a fresh appeal from the PSB, the LHC said athletes could participate in the CWG but didn`t give any final decision on the ongoing feud between the two national olympic bodies. The two Olympic bodies are at loggerheads over who would control the Pakistan Olympic House in Lahore and its accounts. Due to the ongoing feud, the Pakistan hockey federation has lost out on an opportunity to send its team to the CWG, while the PSB has also reduced the number of athletes and officials in the Pakistan contingent that has come down from 82 to 62. Pakistan will only take part in swimming, athletics, badminton, squash, wrestling, weightlifting disciplines in the Games starting July 23. "Our training and preparations for the Games have been hurt because of this feud and it has done no good to our chances of winning any medals in the games," an athlete said. In the last CWG held in New Delhi, Pakistan had bagged two gold medals in wrestling through Muhammad Inam and Azhar Hussain.