Fata Sports Directorate’s tall-claims of promoting sports become naked when one looks at the abysmal conditions of talented players in Fata. Here is the tale of a Martial Art Player; Ghani Shinwari, of Khyber Agency.
Ghani Shinwari works on daily wages in Torkham on Pak-Afghan border. In after noon, he comes to a Martial Art Academy; a big hall located in an old building in Landi Kotal Bazzar of Khyber Agency.
“Last year, when I was selected to participate in International Competition in South Korea, I did not believe it because I had no money for Ticket. Senator Taj Muhammad, paid Rs. 130,000 for ticket while my Teacher, Farhad Shinwari, ticket was paid by pockets of friends,’’ Said Ghani Shinwari.
“I got third position in Open Weight Category in All Asia Karata Qualifying Round held in Bosan city of South Korea on September 4, 2016,” said Ghani Shinwari.
“In foreign countries when people were looking at the Trophy in my hand, they used to congratulate me. I received huge honour from people in abroad and never waited for in lines at Airport, because people respected me. I hoped for same, on return to Pakistan and that government and other sports institutions would have rewarded me with same honour, but in vain,” added Ghani Shinwari.
Ghani has to participate in an international event but has no financial resources for his logistic arrangements. “I am going to participate in World Karate Champion Tournament scheduled to be held in Astana city of Kazakhstan in July, 2017. I am alone to represent Pakistan,” said Ghani Shinwari.
He is in need of logistic support; “I am worried for Ticket & other expenses for participating in World Karate Champion tournament in Kazakhstan.”
“After doing labor, I do practice in this hot weather without a fan. There is also lack of other basic facilities. If I gets injured, then there is no first aid,” said Ghani Khan.
His trainer Noor Islam, a player of international repute in Martial Art, told about the the talent of Ghani Shinwari, “Ghani Shinwari can compete international player in martial art.”
This Martial Art Academy was established in Landi Kotal bazzar in 1994. It is run on our own expenses (self-financed). About three thousands students have got different Martial Art trainings, and Ghani is one of them who are representing Pakistan on International level.
Noor Islam Shinwari said, “that Martial Art is played in 110 countries, but it is yet to become a part of Olympic Games. That is why Martial Art players are facing a lot of problems in Pakistan. We are hopeful, that Martial Art will become part of Olympic Games, 2020.”