Outraged at them being “thrown out” of indoor stadium scores of young Taekwondo players staged a protest here on late Friday evening.
Amid heavy snowfall, players assembled at Press enclave demanding a place to practice the sport. The players representing a local club, MTC team, included teenage boys and girls. They raised pro-justice slogans. They alleged that they were “thrown out” by the State Sports Council from Indoor stadium in the summer capital, where they had been practicing for last few days.
Muzaffar Shaikh who heads the MTC team said, “Our club has been active for the past 15 years. Our group comprises of 40-50 Taekwondo players. We have been left in lurch by the authorities.”
Shaikh said that they have practicing the sport at Gindun park in Raj Bagh for the past 8 years and players have participated in several national level contests. “We were first provided space at the indoor stadium but were later asked to leave which is quite disheartening for the players,” he added.
Senior Taekwondo player and Coach Mansha Bashir said the group was “evicted” from the indoor stadium after facing “harassment” from the sports authorities. “Another group at the stadium was provided free practice mats but we were told to purchase our own mats. We informed the authorities that being students, it was not possible for us to purchase the new mats but they ignored our plea and asked us to leave the stadium,” she added.
Bashir said the team was losing out on valuable practice days as they are scheduled to perform at the annual R-Day celebrations in Jammu on January 26. “We also have to participate in forthcoming national games in Goa in March but authorities have turned a blind eye towards our talent. Can’t we simply get a place to practice,” Bashir asked.
Another Taekwondo player, Nadeem said, “I have toiled to be a part of this sport but am suffering due to callousness of the authorities. Our fate is hanging in balance.”
When contacted, secretary, Youth Services and Sports, Sarmad Hafeez, said that he would take-up the issue with sports council adding that young players would be provided sufficient facilities. “Often there are issues within the associations and teams which needed to be sorted out. I will take-up this issue with the sports council,” Hafeez said.