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KARACHI: Pakistan Sailing Federation (PSAF) is considering organising an international event next year to promote soft image of the country.

“We are thinking about holding an international sailing event next year in order to develop soft image of Pakistan. We plan to start it from the South Asian level and then will try to extend the canvas,” PSAF secretary Lt Commander Zahid Rauf told ‘The News’ here on Sunday. “We will talk to the regional countries about our plan during the Asian Sailing Championship in Malaysia next month.”

He said if Pakistan managed to get holding rights of the next South Asian Beach Games, the event would be conducted with the joint efforts of Pakistan Olympic Association (POA) and PSAF in Gwadar. “If this event is allotted to Pakistan, then we will try to stage it in Gwadar. It will be a big boost to the area,” Rauf said. “We will be trying with sincerity and I hope that we will be able to hold at least two international events next year.”

He said the federation was trying to develop the required infrastructure through the support of the armed forces, especially Navy. He said the federation has requested the Pakistan Sports Board (PSB) to extend financial support. “We have good talent but we need resources to groom it. The government is funding only a few sports disciplines which I think is not right. Our sailors can participate in eight events in the Asian Games. If we are provided with desired financial support we can lift eight gold medals. But if you spend millions of rupees on hockey or football they will win for you only a single gold.”

PSB has excluded sailing from its plan to train juniors in different sports disciplines under a regular scheme for the 2016 Olympics. About this, he said he had no idea and would ask PSB.

He also disclosed that Pakistan would be fielding two sailors in the 15th Asian Sailing Championship to be held in Langkawi (Malaysia) from February 16-25. “We will be fielding Qasim Abbas and Khalid Hussain in the RS:X class in the Asian Championship next month. Both are undergoing training here at the PN Aquatic Club. Qasim is an experienced man while it will be the first international assignment for Khalid Hussain and I hope that the event will help the duo prepare better for the Asian Beach Games in China this year.”

The 3rd Asian Beach Games will be held from June 16-22 in Haiyang (China). He regretted that due to lack of resources Pakistan could not feature in all the qualifying rounds for London Olympics. “We sent only Qasim Abbas to Australia in November last year for the ISAF World Sailing Championship which was also a qualifying round for Olympics. For qualifying for Olympics, you need sufficient resources in order to field your players in maximum number of qualifying events. But we don’t have such support.”