No gymnasium our major problem: Paktia athletes

GARDEZ (Pajhwok): A number of athletes in southeastern Paktia province on Wednesday complained about lacking gymnasium and other indoor sports facilities for excise especially in winter.

They expressed these views at a ceremony held in Gardez, the provincial capital, to encourage athletes and talk about problems they faced.

Ahmad Nazir Umari, director of Motai federation, said they could not continue their exercise in winter due to the lack of a gymnasium -- their major problem.

Noor Wahab Sabit, MMA sport official, made similar complains and said local sportsmen not only lacked facilities but also lacked attention from the provincial and central authorities.

Meanwhile, body building federation chief, Sharif Mangal, criticized national traders for not couraging athletes by providing them facilities.

“Sportsmen are struggling with economic problems in provinces and have no budget to buy needed equipment while our national businessmen also do not assist them,” Mangal complained.

On the other hand, the body building training department director, Gul Karim Sahar, said about 39,000 under training athletes were associated with 34 federations.

“We have no gymnasium or a proper place to invite sportsmen from neighbor provinces for competitions, we don’t have our own budget to provide certain facilities,” Sahar said.

Governor Shamim Khan Katawazi said he was aware of the athletes’ problems and was striving to address them at the earliest possible.

He promised provision of places and urgently needed equipment to the athletes this year. “A sports complex would be built in the city.”

sa/ma