23-Apr-2012
PRESPECTIVES OF UNIVERSITY
SPORTS IN PAKISTAN
Aamir Bilal
The first International World Student Games were held in Rome in 1910 and the first ever Academic Olympiads were staged in Warsa in 1925. Seeing the success of 4th International Students Championship in Darmstadt where over 1000 sportsperson from 33 countries participated, the International Union of Students (IUS) was founded in Prauge in 1946 to foster fraternity and understanding amongst the youth through sports.
Pakistan made its mark at international youth sports in 1973 Moscow Universidad, by sending a contingent of seven players including two female tennis players, two athletes, two wrestlers and a swimmer. Late Begum Razia Ali Beg accompanied the contingent as chef-de-mission. The contingent on the whole failed to win any medal in the competition.
This would have been good learning for young Pakistani athletes and administrators but the lesson learned were soon forgotten, and the higher ups of then University Grants Commission (UGC) later redesigned as Higher Education Commission (HEC) under pressure of its high ups hurriedly assembled a three member team to participate in 1975 Rome Universidad. The athletes participated in the Universidad without much preparation. The results were no different from 1973 and the contingent returned home after a recreational trip to Rome.
Pakistan third representative in the world university games was in Bulgaria (Sofia) in 1977. The seven member contingent including a manager cum coach that participated in the games had nothing to cherish except exotic dinners at the house of Pakistani Ambassador, Commodore (Retd) Saleemi and returned home empty handed.
When 1981 Bucharest (Romania) world university Summer Games were announced, the Higher Education Commission decided to send its three best athletes, comprising of Ali Haider (NED University), Amir Hamza, shot putter (national champion) now DG PSB and late Nabeel Ishtiaq who was national swimming champions also failed to make any mark during the competition.
The only consolation of 1985 Kobe Universidad was the formal affiliation of HEC then UGC with International University Sports Federation (FISU) that opened the formal doors for Pakistan to regularly participate and benefits from world university games. The Zagreb 1987 Universidad would however be remembered due to excellent performance of Naushaba Khan who qualified for the semifinals of 100 meter dash which was never repeated again by any other female athlete from Pakistan at that level.
The Universidad games from 1991 to date with exception of 2005-06 games in Turkey where a Pakistani University boxer manage to win a bronze medal are testimony of the disappointing performance of Pakistan youth at university games under the aegis of Higher Education Commission which was established from the genesis of UGC in 2002.
A careful and in depth analysis of Universidad reveals that the universities all over the world produce sportsperson of international caliber and the world university games is a platform where young athletes either equal, better or shatter the world and Olympic records. This however is not done through day dreaming and whimsical planning but behind it is share hard work, celerity of objectives, proper policies, correct resource allocation and preparation by the universities all over the world.
It is a fact that universities play a pivotal role in formulating and finishing the best of human resource in any country. Sports are no exception, as universities around the world not only produce future world champions but also provide conducive atmosphere for sport related academic pursuits and research and development opportunities necessary to come at par with international sports contemporaries.
It is unfortunate that our university sports leaders instead of focusing on the strength of sports programs offered world wide had either been complacent about paucity of funds or had focused on issues which added no value to their learning. The divergent activities of contingents from Pakistan and other developing counties become so obvious that organizers of 1977 Universidad at Bulgaria had to make a very interesting announcement that youth from some countries (developing) “must take care of their tiny hearts and emotion in having friendships with opposite sex, as games duration is short and international passport rules, visa and travelling restrictions may not allow them to see each other again”. The remark is self explanatory and does not require further explanation.
The university sport in Pakistan has a long history. Initially these competitions were held by the universities at their own. Having been encouraged by the participation of various universities, a need was felt for a proper sports committee to be formed and thus Inter University Sports Bard (IUSB) was established in 1948. The IUSB comprised of director of sports of all the universities in Pakistan and a secretary was stationed in Islamabad to co-ordinate the operations.
Though the system was not program efficient, yet it can be rated satisfactory in terms of participation of sportsperson and spectators. The financial requirements of Inter-University Sports for holding tournaments, camps and tours were met through collateral financial contribution of participating universities as annual subscriptions.
The system prevailed till 1974 when UGC as established. After which the entire system was changed. The UGC from there onwards took over the responsibility of promoting sports in universities Dr. M.A. Kazi the founder chairman of UGC wanted to promote university sports. The concept of combined universities team emerged but the focus somehow remained on participation and not the program development.
In 1976 Mr. Zakir Hussain Syed came up with a brilliant idea of establishing a sports academy at Federal Government College in H/9 Islamabad with the support of Federal Education Minister. The facility was established with great interest but became interactive with passage of time due to lack of capacity and poor sports programs in colleges and universities.
Another soft area of university sports in Pakistan is its redundant degree and diploma program. The master degree in physical education that started in Gomal University in 1976-77 is perhaps the last choice of students opting for a post graduation. There is a strong requirement to substitute the master’s degree of physical education with sports education/administration programs.
The Higher Education Commission has recently appointed Mr. Talat Khursheed as D.G Sports of HEC. With more than 5 million postgraduate students in 94 private and public universities of Pakistan, sports enthusiasts and high ups in HEC have high expectation from the stalwart. One hopes that HEC would now evolve a comprehensive University Sports Policy, start with master degree program in sport management, publish a quarterly sports journal of international standard, establish a research and development cell at its high altitude facility in Khanaspur, create proper training and coaching facilities for players, establish a transparent talent hunting system, and create private public partnerships for improvement of University sports in the country.
There is also a need to revive the curricula of Masters and Diploma courses of physical education and teachers and students of physical education may be sent abroad to undergo the specialize trainings of sports administration, kinesiology, biomechanics, sport psychology and management in sports. HEC may also look in to the possibility of establishing national sports library and national sports proficiency awards for talented athletes and committed sports administrators.
There is much more that can be done to improve the standard of University Sports in the Country for which Higher Education Commission has to put its priorities rights. The participation in International University competition and conferences should not only be a source of sight seeing, free joy rides and shopping trips but a real source of learning and achieving high standards in international sports. The nation’s youth look up at its organizations and policy makers in HEC, to deliver at this critical juncture, so that they can make there mark at international level and win laurels for their country that they love.
Aamir Bilal
Qualified IOC Coach
sdfsports@gmail.com
18 Dec 2009
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