ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Volleyball Federation (PVF) Women’s Development Committee Chairperson Malika Junaid Thursday said that the local women have immense potential to excel in the game of volleyball and other sports as well provided that they get the required guidance and financial support.
During her media talk, Malika, a founding member of the Empower Sports Academy based in the United States, said the recent national women volleyball championship has already unleashed some exciting talent.
“We can further hone it with proper coaching, guidance, and required financial support to the talented volleyball players. Coaching under able experts is a must for a systematic improvement in the standard of women’s volleyball in the country,” she said.
Malika hoped to develop a core of players to represent Pakistan in future international competitions.
“With the South Asian Games approaching fast, we want to raise standard of the women’s volleyball so that they could outshine the best,” she said.
“The Empower Sports Academy is aiming to empower women in sports by providing the best training, competition facilities and environment to improve their techniques and bringing their fitness level at par with international standards. By providing a friendly environment in women’s sports, a large number of female players will also get attracted to different sports”, Malika added.
She also called on the business community to play constructive role in promoting women’s sports especially the volleyball in the country.
Earlier, the Pakistan Sports Board (PSB) had released Rs4 million as a special grant to the Pakistan Volleyball Federation (PVF) for its efforts to organise and participate in two back-to-back international events.
Chaudhry Muhammad Yaqub, chairman PVF, confirmed to 'The News' that the approval has been given by the PSB.
“We have received a communication from the PSB according to which the amount has been approved. We participated in an international event abroad and also organised an Asian event in Pakistan. On both events we invested over Rs30 million in all,” he said. “You know well that travelling abroad has got all that expensive now, yet we are thankful to Minister IPC for his approval. Ehsanur Rehman Mazari is always there to help sports.”
Our Correspondent