Competitions were held in 36 sports at the 17th Asian Games held in Incheon, South Korea. 14 World and Asian records were broken; an evidence of increasing sports’ standards of the continent. A total of 1454 (439 gold, 439 silver and 576 bronze) medals were at stake. As in the last eight editions, China topped the medal table, with 151 golds. The hosts South Korea were second (79 golds) and Japan third (47) golds.
Pakistani contingent of 236 including as many as 71 officials competed in 23 disciplines. They returned with just five medals: one gold, one silver and three bronze.
It was a big decline from country’s show at the last Asiad in 2010 where Pakistan bagged three gold, two silver and three bronze. In fact, it was country’s worst show at the Asiads in 16 appearances, barring 1994 and 2006, the two occasions when they failed to land a single gold medal.
Asia’s third most populous nation was only 23rd in the medal table. What to talk of competing with Korea and Japan, they even finished below small and impoverished nations such as Myanmar and Vietnam.
This time around, the sole gold medal was won in the women’s cricket. The silver came in hockey. While the three bronze arrived courtesy kabaddi, boxing (Mohammad Wasim) and wushu (Muratab Ali Shah). Pakistan also participated in shooting, rugby, karate, judo, volleyball, football, baseball, swimming, wrestling, table tennis, taekwondo, badminton, cycling and weightlifting but remained empty handed in these disciplines.
The feat of women cricket team is commendable but at the same time it must be mentioned that India, the Asian power house, hadn’t sent their team. The version of kabaddi at the Asian Games also called Asian style kabaddi is different from the one we see commonly in Pakistan, the circle kabaddi. The wushu bronze medallist was lucky. A bye meant Muratab Ali Shah reached the semifinals after winning just one bout. Both the semifinal losers were awarded bronze medals.
In fact, this was very much on the cards. Due to the two parallel bodies of POA (Pakistan Olympic Association), there is uncertainty, mismanagement and chaos in Pakistan sports. The POA led by Lt.General (rtd) Arif Hasan has the backing of the IOC (International Olympic Committee). The other faction headed by Major General (rtd), which emerged recently, is sponsored by the government of Pakistan and enjoys the support of the Pakistan Sports Board. All this has had a cascading effect and quite a few sporting disciplines in Pakistan also have two parallel bodies. Resultantly, preparations were hampered.
This feud also meant the country had no representation in the track and field- the blue riband event of any multi-disciplinary sports competition.
