Pakistan hungry to show rowing commitment

There are nine of them. They are training twice daily. They’ve been given leave from the army to train full time. They are Pakistan’s Olympic rowing qualification hopefuls.

“They are very enthusiastic but they lack coaching,” says Andreas Leichtfuss who recently spent some time in Pakistan on invitation to advise both rowers and coaches. Leichtfuss’s trip was delayed due to local unrest, but when he arrived in early December Leichtfuss, from Switzerland, was impressed by the warm hospitality and the commitment of the Pakistan Rowing Federation to long term thinking and planning.

Pakistan has two clubs near the capital, Islamabad. Both are run by the military and the best rowers from these clubs are working towards the Asian Olympic Qualification Regatta in Shanghai, China in April 2008.

Pakistan’s rowing federation has big plans and Leichtfuss says they are being matter-of-fact in realising the length of time necessary to create top athletes. “In discussions the federation is talking about a long term approach and it’s realistic. It’s not just about the short term.”

Leichtfuss says the rowers want to show that their training base on Rawal Lake is a suitable training venue for rowers from around the world and the locals are excited to learn from others. “They are hungry to be in contact with rowers from other countries,” says Leichtfuss. “They are optimistic about their future.”

The Rawal Lake venue is close to Pakistan’s capital, Islamabad and includes a straight course of more than 2500m. Currently the fledgling Afghanistan crew is training there. (See World Rowing story on 6/12/07).

Leichtfuss believes that Pakistan’s best chance for Olympic qualification is in the lightweight men’s double. At present there are six hopefuls aiming to compete in the lightweight double. There are also three heavyweight rowers.

They plan to prepare for the Asian qualification regatta by doing as many international races as possible. They will race in February at the Team Cup in Seville, Spain and join other international competitions. The team will also be in Seville to train under FISA’s development director Thor Nilsen. They are currently training two to three times a day rowing in the single or double and doing weights and ergs.

If the rowers don’t qualify in Shanghai, the federation says the top rowers will still continue to train full time.

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