Afghan nationals allegedly fielded in Balochistan squad at 35th National Games in Karachi
Afghan nationals allegedly fielded in Balochistan squad at 35th National Games in Karachi
KARACHI : By Nawaz Gohar ; A major controversy has emerged at the 35th National Games after reports surfaced that multiple Afghan migrants were allegedly included in Balochistan’s wushu squad and other team rosters, raising serious questions over transparency, athlete verification and fair play.
According to persons present on the occasion, the Balochistan Wushu team, accused of being a fake lineup, allegedly fled from the official trials, reportedly fearing detection. Subsequent revelations indicated that eight players from this team included at least four Afghan nationals, all living as migrants in Pakistan.
Further reports also suggest that both men’s and women’s teams in other categories featured a significant number of Afghan migrants, including athletes listed in the 52kg, 70kg, 75kg, 80kg and additional weight classes.
The allegations have prompted widespread concern among officials, athletes and sports administrators, with many describing the incident as a serious breach of rules, ethics and national sporting integrity.
Those raising the issue have urged the Balochistan Sports Board, Balochistan Olympic Association and the Pakistan Wushu Federation to launch a thorough investigation and take strict action against all individuals responsible for bypassing athlete eligibility rules.
They further appealed to all relevant national departments and sports bodies to treat the matter with urgency, saying such violations undermine the credibility of the National Games and compromise the rights of legitimate athletes across the country.
The controversy has cast a shadow over the ongoing National Games in Karachi, where teams from across Pakistan are competing in dozens of disciplines. Pending an official inquiry, sports administrators are calling for tighter verification procedures to ensure only eligible Pakistani athletes represent their respective provinces and departments.
