Islamabad is set to witness a historic moment as Pakistan hosts the first-ever SAAF Cross Country Athletics Championship at Fatima Jinnah Park (F-9), Islamabad on Sunday.
Speaking at a press conference at Pakistan Sports Complex Chairman South Asian SAAF Maj Gen. (R) Mohammad Akram Sahi lauded the preparations for SAAF cross country by the Local Organizing Committee (LOC), headed by Brig Sultan Mehmood Satti, (R), Chairman Islamabad Athletics Association (IAA).
The event is being conducted under the auspices of the Athletics Federation of Pakistan (AFP), he said.
Meanwhile, Satti said this is the first time in 77 years that SAAF Cross Country is being held in Pakistan. The last SAAF Games were held in Islamabad in 2004. Akram Sahi (Ex-President AFP), is presently Chairman SAAF.
It’s due to his untiring efforts that the Honour of hosting this SAAF Cross Country by AFP has seen the light of day, he said.
He said all member countries (Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka) of SAAF had shown interest to participate in this mega event.
However at the last moment due to unavoidable circumstances, Indian and Bhutan Teams could not make it. Other member countries featuring in the championship include Bangladesh, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka.
The competitions will be held in two categories including Menat 10km and Men under 20 years at 8km. Track of 2km is made, for Category – 1(5 Laps) and Category -2 (4 Laps), he said.
Satti said teams have been fully facilitated from a boarding & lodging point of view. Due to the relentless efforts of AFP, Pakistan has emerged in the World Olympic scene, with Pride of Pakistan, Arshad Nadeem with a gold medal and breaking the Olympic Record in Javelin Throw. After Cricket, the Pakistani Nation has started taking an interest in Athletics also like Marathons, Cross Countries, and National Athletics Events being organized by International Standards, he said.
He said for holding this event the credit also goes to the Ministry of Inter-Provincial Coordination (lPC), Pakistan Sports Board (PSB) and AFP.The
Ministry of IPC and PSB are supporting the SAAF Cross Country. All Ministries (MOI, MOFA, Tourism) and Departments (|G ICT), IG (Punjab), Commissioner ICT, Chairman CDA Islamabad), are hand in glove with AFP, to make this event a success, he said and also thanked the Rudn Enclave Housing Society for the sponsorship and making the event a success.
The competition will feature two categories:
Men’s Under-20 Race: An 8-kilometer race set to begin at 10:00 AM on February 23.
Men’s Senior Race: A 10-kilometer event scheduled for 11:00 AM on the same day.