Sad that Pakistan didn’t win a single medal, says daily
August 13th, 2012 - 11:49 am ICT by IANSIslamabad, Aug 13 (IANS) That Pakistan, a country of over 180 million, did not win a single medal in the London Olympics was a sad reflection on the state of affairs in Pakistani sport, said a leading daily Monday.
An editorial in the Dawn said the curtains came down on the magnificent London Olympics Sunday with the US and China dominating the show, rather emphatically, followed by hosts Great Britain that finished third on the medals table.
“The Games, however, were a sad reflection on the state of affairs in Pakistani sport. For a country of over 180 million people to not be able to fetch a single medal in the Olympic Games is shambolic,” it said.
“Even worse perhaps, it was expected.”
The daily said that the Pakistan contingent comprised just 20 athletes, 16 of whom were hockey players, and none could make the finals of their events.
“Following the dismal faring of the national contingent, there have been calls for replacing people at the helm of sports federations, for better planning and incentives for athletes and uplift of infrastructure,” it said.
“But so long as the will to excel and the determination to achieve something is lacking among the athletes and officials, nothing will really alter the dismal status quo,” the editorial added.
Pakistan’s neighbour India walked off with six medals, including two silvers.
–Indo-Asia News Service
rd/mj
- Pakistan's performance in Special Olympics lauded - Jul 06, 2011
- Pakistani daily rues country's Olympic woes - Apr 02, 2012
- Don't reject state-run sports, says Chinese daily - Aug 04, 2012
- Pakistani dailies upset over hockey defeat - Aug 09, 2012
- India win 243 medals including 92 gold at Special Games in Athens - Jul 08, 2011
- 142 Indian contingent for London Olympics - Jul 19, 2012
- Pakistan will return empty-handed from Olympics: Experts - Jul 30, 2012
- China can't reach Beijing gold haul in London, says official - Apr 20, 2012
- No pomp as downcast Kenyans return from London Games - Aug 16, 2012
- New Zealand to send 185 athletes to London Olympics - Jul 09, 2012
- Russia to send 436 athletes to London 2012 - Jul 10, 2012
- Olympics helped Chinese give new thinking, says daily - Aug 13, 2012
- Facilities for Games put Delhi a decade ahead, says Kalmadi (Lead) - Sep 30, 2010
- India to send largest ever contingent for Asian Games - Oct 30, 2010
- Medals don't determine honour or dishonour: China Daily - Aug 02, 2012
Tags: asia news, contingent, curtains, dawn, great britain, helm, hockey players, incentives, indo asia, london olympics, medals, mj, neighbour, news service, olympic games, olympics, sad reflection, service rd, state of affairs, uplift