New Weightlifting Scandal — Who Is Responsible for Crushing the Dreams of Our Young Champions?
By: Sports Friend, Shahid Ulhaq
The New Weightlifting Scandal — Who Is Responsible for Crushing the Dreams of Our Young Champions?
By: Sports Friend, Shahid Ulhaq
Once again, Pakistan’s sporting history has fallen victim to corruption, internal conflict, and institutional betrayal. This time, the casualties are two promising young weightlifters — Furqan Ahmed and Haider Shakeel — who were denied accreditation to compete in the 3rd Asian Youth Games in Bahrain.
On the surface, the excuse seems administrative: the athletes’ “whereabouts information” was allegedly not submitted before the deadline. However, the truth appears to be far deeper and more troubling.
According to my credible sources, this was not a clerical error but a deliberate act of exclusion. Reportedly, certain elements from the suspended Pakistan Weightlifting Federation, with personal ties to the Pakistan Olympic Association (POA), influenced the Pakistan Sports Board’s Interim Committee to drop these medal-contending athletes.
It is worth recalling that the High Court had ordered the formation of an interim committee after serious allegations of corruption, doping scandals, and mismanagement surfaced within the federation. Unfortunately, the Pakistan Olympic Association, instead of supporting transparency, continued backing the suspended federation, perpetuating a system that protects corruption rather than punishes it.
Sources reveal that the suspended federation wanted to send athletes with inferior performance records, sidelining those who truly deserved to represent Pakistan.
It is an undeniable fact that Furqan Ahmed had recently shown exceptional form. He is comparatively reported by his coach he is lifting two to three kilograms more than the current Asian youth gold medalist in 81-kg class, suggesting a strong possibility that he could have won gold for Pakistan — possibly even two gold medals in the Clean and Jerk event.
This is not the first time Pakistan’s sporting authorities have sacrificed genuine talent. In the past, Olympic medal hope Nooh Dastgir Butt and judoka Shah Hussain were also sidelined in similar circumstances — costing Pakistan potential international recognition and medals.
To deprive athletes of opportunity for political, personal, or factional reasons is not only unethical — it is a national disgrace. Coaches and sports experts have now appealed to the Pakistan Olympic Association, Pakistan Sports Board, Ministry of Sports, and higher authorities to order an immediate and transparent investigation into this scandal and hold the responsible individuals accountable.
If these internal conflicts and parallel federations continue unchecked, Pakistan’s image in global sports — including the upcoming Islamic Solidarity Games 2025 — will suffer irreparable damage.
So far, the Pakistan Olympic Association has not clarified whether the appeal for these athletes was ever forwarded to the Asian Youth Games organizers. If these athletes were intentionally obstructed, it would mark one of the most disgraceful acts in Pakistan’s sporting history.
The future of Pakistan’s sports depends not only on what happens in the arenas but on honest decisions and transparent governance. It is time to end the politics that destroy young athletes’ dreams and hard work for the sake of personal interests and positions.
