MUSARRAT ULLAH JAN
PESHAWAR: Several professional weightlifters at the Peshawar Sports Complex are being forced to train on bare ground after the lack of professional weightlifting equipment left them without access to suitable facilities.
The athletes, who have represented Khyber Pakhtunkhwa in national competitions, say they can no longer afford the Rs. 5,000 monthly fee charged by a private gym where they previously trained.
According to sources, the athletes had been using a private gym operating inside the Pakistan Sports Board’s Table Tennis Hall. However, after the gym began charging a monthly fee, many were forced to discontinue their training there. To ensure preparations continued, their coach brought his own equipment and started training the athletes in an open area of the Peshawar Sports Complex.
The athletes maintain that the Provincial Sports Directorate’s gym does not have the professional weightlifting equipment required for competitive training, making it unsuitable for athletes preparing for national events.
Provincial Sports Directorate Gym In-charge Shiraz Khan Naveed acknowledged the shortage of equipment, confirming that the gym lacks the facilities needed for professional weightlifting. He said the matter has been brought to the attention of the relevant authorities, who have assured that new equipment will be provided soon.
The situation, however, raises serious concerns about how these athletes will continue preparing for upcoming competitions until the promised equipment arrives. It also prompts questions about why government-owned sports equipment, reportedly lost or stolen in the past, has not yet been replaced.
Despite the challenges, the athletes and their coach continue training with unwavering determination. Their perseverance underscores the urgent need for the provincial authorities to equip the sports complex with modern weightlifting facilities, enabling talented athletes to compete effectively and continue bringing laurels to Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Pakistan.
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