Pakistan’s premier wrestler Inam Butt misses Asian Wrestling Championships 2019
Due to the lack of financial support Pakistan Wrestling Federation (PWF) was not able to send, premier wrestler of Pakistan, Muhammad Inam Butt to participate in 2019 Asian Wrestling Championships which began from today in Xian, China.
Inam is one of the main hopes of Pakistan for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics if he gets to qualify further more rounds that leads the road towards his participation in 2020 Tokyo Olympics. But due to the lack of state's financial support for the last eight months, Pakistan Wrestling Federation (PWF) was unable to send the most talented wrestler of Pakistan to the Asian Wrestling Championships 2019 which made Inam become the latest casualty that is damaging his dreams of qualifying for the 2020 Olympics.
“Yes, we are unable to send Inam to China due to financial issues. The Pakistan Tehreek I Insaf (PTI) government should realize that without state funding leading athletes would, particularly, suffer. You know since taking charge, this government has done nothing for sports. The stance of the federal government not to assist the federations financially is affecting the country’s leading athletes who are missing international events which are very important for the country and for them,” Pakistan Wrestling Federation’s (PWF) Secretary, Arshad Sattar expressed.
Inam is also a gold medalist of Delhi Commonwealth Games in 2010 and in the year 2016 he had won Silver medal in the Men's Freestyle 86 KG in Commonwealth Wrestling Championships. Then in Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games, Australia, this Pakistani wrestler outclassed his opponent Melvin Bibo of Nigeria by 6:0 to win another gold medal for Pakistan.
Muhammad Inam Butt is regarded as the best wrestler from Pakistan who has made our nation proud by winning several national and international events as his collection comprises, not just of the two gold medals from the Commonwealth Games but also, two of the World Beach Championships titles as well. Inam has recently attended after attending the International Athletes Forum (IAF) in Lausanne, Switzerland, as chairman of the athletes commission of Pakistan Olympic Association (POA).
As per the rules of World Body (UWW), the world champions will have to feature in the qualifiers. Out of two events it is compulsory to feature in at least one qualifying round. Inam has had already missed one in Portugal recently due to visa issue but he still have hopes as the federation is applying for the next qualifier to be held in Brazil from May 7.
Inam would also have to play in the qualifiers for the World Beach Games slated to be held in San Diego, United States, from October 9-15, 2019.
