Rawalpindi: (Syed Shahid Waheed Hashmi) The talented taekwondo cousin sisters, Sanbal and Taiba Ashraf, from Lahore showcased an outstanding performance representing Pakistan at the three-nation taekwondo tournament held in Bangkok, winning gold medals and returning home. The athletes, who raised the national flag high, expressed disappointment over the lack of government support and financial assistance, calling for encouragement and sponsorship for talented players. Sanbal and her coach Taiba Ashraf stated that despite limited resources, they have participated in numerous national and international competitions, earning honors for Pakistan; however, they have not received financial support or proper recognition from the Pakistan Sports Board and relevant authorities. Taiba Ashraf mentioned that participating in international competitions incurs heavy expenses for athletes, including tickets, visas, travel costs, training, accommodation, and food. Despite the lack of government support, they continued this journey through self-help and personal resources, prioritizing representing Pakistan at every opportunity. They noted that athletes face injuries and other challenges during competitions, but the desire to win medals for Pakistan gives them the courage to fight through difficulties. While they are happy about winning gold medals, they also regret the lack of encouragement and support despite their national success. Taiba Ashraf stated that their goal is to achieve more international honors for Pakistan in taekwondo. They will continue to work hard to win gold medals while representing Pakistan in future competitions, including the World Cup and other global events.
The athletes urged the government and the Pakistan Sports Board to provide adequate financial support, modern training facilities, coaching, and necessary resources for participating in international competitions so that they can represent the country on the global stage with full preparation. Sanbal and Taiba Ashraf expressed their determination that if they are provided with the required facilities and support, they will spare no effort in raising Pakistan’s flag in future international competitions and will continue their struggle to bring the global taekwondo title to Pakistan.