POA factional feud threatens to mar Pakistan’s Asian Games participation chances

The year 2013 has not been a great one for the Pakistan men’s hockey team. The Greenshirts failed to qualify for the World Cup (to be held in The Hague, Netherlands next year) for the first time ever, casting a pall of gloom on the sport’s future in the country.

If the non-performance of the players is not enough, the national team missed out on an opportunity to take part in the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow thanks to the one-upmanship between two factions of the Pakistan Olympic Association (POA)

The feud between the two parallel bodies is threatening to mar Pakistan’s chances of taking part in the 2014 Asian Games slated to be held in Korea.

It may be worth recalling that the Pakistan Olympic Association (POA), was split into two separate factions earlier this year, with the Syed Arif Hassan-led POA being recognized by International Olympic Committee (IOC) – the only body authorized to send the country’s athletes to international events conducted by IOC.

The other POA faction – Akram Sahi-led POA is backed by the state-run Pakistan Sports Board. Of course, it isn't a surprise to see why the Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF), which relies on the state-run Sports Board for funds and other facilities for running the national team, does not recognize the Syed Arif Hassan-led POA.

The  Akram Sahi-led POA has been maintaining that Syed Arif Hassan must respect the Supreme Court ruling which restricts office-bearers of sports bodies to hold office for a third consecutive team. Hassan has been asked to step down by government authorities, but has been adamantly holding on to his POA president chair.

Hassan’s reluctance to step down led to the rival Akram Sahi-led POA, who are riding on the support of Pakistan Sports Board, to claim themselves as the legitimate POA.

Hockey players, former and present, have been exhorting the government to resolve the issue and ensure Pakistan plays in the 2014 Asian Games.

The challenge to get Hassan step down is a big one and unless that happens, the stalemate is likely to continue.