The representatives of the Pakistan Sports Board (PSB) and the Pakistan Olympic Association (POA) will sit today to finalise the plan for the country's contingent for the upcoming Asian Games, starting from September 23 in Hangzhou, China.
Director General PSB Shoaib Khoso and POA Secretary Mohammad Khalid Mehmood will head the meeting in which all matters related to the participation of Pakistan team in the Asian Games will be discussed.
"It is a very important meeting where it will be revealed when different sports teams will depart for China and what their plan of final training will be," an official told The News.
According to sources, there has been some increase in the list of officials and chances are that the contingent will comprise more than 300 people, including 218 athletes. The meeting will also finalize the total budget which will include teams' travelling budget, daily allowances and hotel stay expenditure of some top officials.
Pakistan has bright chances in shooting. Gulfam Joseph and Ghulam Mustafa Bashir, two of its best shooters, have already proved their mettle by qualifying for Olympics while the rest of the men’s lot is not far behind.
Usman Chand is already making moves and chances of Pakistan making a real impression in shooting can’t be ruled out. Pakistan hockey is facing a tough challenge.
Gold medal at the Asiad would mean a ticket to the Olympics while any other position would leave them playing in the Olympic qualifying round where even highly ranked teams would try to earn a place in the top three spots and a place in the Paris Olympics.