By : Shahid Ul Haq
Once again, Pakistan’s sports sector finds itself marred by corruption, internal politics, and institutional betrayal. The latest victims of this troubling legacy are two promising young weightlifters, Furqan Ahmed and Haider Shakeel, who were shockingly denied accreditation to compete in the 3rd Asian Youth Games held in Bahrain.
At first glance, the reason appeared to be a routine administrative lapse — the athletes’ “whereabouts information” was reportedly not submitted before the official deadline. However, according to multiple credible sources, this was no innocent clerical mistake. Instead, it was a deliberate act of exclusion orchestrated by elements within the suspended Pakistan Weightlifting Federation, allegedly with personal ties to the Pakistan Olympic Association (POA). These individuals are said to have influenced the Pakistan Sports Board’s Interim Committee to drop Furqan and Haider, both of whom were strong medal contenders.
It’s important to note that the interim committee was formed under orders from the High Court following a series of serious allegations against the Pakistan Weightlifting Federation, including corruption, doping, and gross mismanagement. Rather than support efforts for transparency and reform, the POA reportedly continued to back the suspended federation, enabling a system that protects those involved in misconduct rather than holding them accountable.
Sources claim that this group pushed to replace top-performing athletes with those having weaker performance records—undermining merit and crushing the dreams of athletes who truly deserved the opportunity to represent Pakistan on the international stage.
Furqan Ahmed, in particular, had recently displayed outstanding form. According to his coach, Furqan was lifting two to three kilograms more than the current Asian Youth gold medalist in the 71-kg category. His performance suggested a strong possibility of winning not just one, but potentially two gold medals for Pakistan in the Clean and Jerk event.
This disturbing episode is not without precedent. Pakistani sports history is replete with similar cases where genuine talent was ignored due to politics and favoritism. Notably, Olympic medal hopeful Nooh Dastgir Butt and judoka Shah Hussain were also sidelined in questionable circumstances in the past—costing Pakistan not only medals but valuable global recognition.
Denying young athletes their rightful opportunities for political, personal, or factional reasons is more than just unethical—it is a national disgrace. Coaches, former athletes, and sports analysts have now called upon the Pakistan Olympic Association, the Pakistan Sports Board, the Ministry of Sports, and other relevant authorities to launch an immediate, transparent investigation into this scandal and hold all responsible parties accountable.
If internal conflicts, mismanagement, and the existence of parallel federations are not addressed promptly, Pakistan’s reputation in international sports will continue to decline. This includes potential setbacks in high-profile events such as the upcoming Islamic Solidarity Games 2025.
To date, the Pakistan Olympic Association has yet to clarify whether an appeal for Furqan and Haider was ever submitted to the Asian Youth Games organizers. If it turns out that these athletes were deliberately blocked from participating, it could represent one of the most disgraceful incidents in Pakistan’s sporting history.
The future of Pakistani sports rests not only on athletic talent and hard work but on integrity, fairness, and transparent governance. It is time to end the politics that sacrifice the hopes and dedication of young athletes for personal gain.
