Pentathlon achieves rapid growth in Pakistan

Usman Anwar, Director General of Sports Punjab, has reported that the sport of Modern Pentathlon has achieved rapid growth in Pakistan.

The sport was introduced just two years ago but now athletes from across the country are taking keen interest, Mr Anwar said at a prize ceremony held by the Pakistan Modern Pentathlon Federation (PMPF) at Punjab Stadium on November 20.

The ceremony was arranged at the conclusion of 10-day coaching/training camp organized under the banner of Sports Board Punjab (SBP). The camp served as preparation for the 2nd National Pentathlon Championship on November 21 and 22 at Punjab Stadium.

Usman Anwar said that the way young athletes were developing under the supervision of British coach Bernard Moss, Pakistan could produce world champions in Modern Pentathlon.

“Pentathlon is a tough game but not for our strong and talented players. Our players have also excelled in several other games like snooker, chess, powerlifting, squash and tennis etc,” he added.

Addressing the ceremony, coach Bernard Moss recognised the talent that exists in Pakistan as he said. “I travelled to various countries of the world but found Pakistani talent exceptional above all. Pakistani people are loving and caring. I’m always available to coach Pakistan pentathlon players.”

The PMPF, with support from UIPM, teamed up with SBP to hold a coaching and refereeing camp in Lahore on November 20. More than 40 male and female athletes from Wapda, Railway, Police, Punjab, Sindh, Balochistan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Islamabad, FATA and Gilgit Baltistan took part under the supervision of Bernard Moss.

Zahoor Ahmed, secretary of PMPF, said: “We are imparting the latest training to our players through international coaches which will be very beneficial for pentathlon in our country.”