Our Correspondent
ABBOTTABAD: Gymnastics is rapidly gaining popularity in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, but the shortage of proper equipment continues to hinder the progress of emerging athletes, said Shams Ur Rehman Orakzai, Associate Secretary of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Gymnastics Association and General Secretary of the Kohat Division Gymnastics Association.
Addressing the media in Abbottabad, Orakzai highlighted that several gymnastics clubs are operating actively in the Kohat Division, training players from various age groups. However, he noted that the lack of essential gymnastics apparatus remains a significant obstacle for the region’s talented youth.
“Abbottabad and the entire Hazara Division have outstanding players who, with adequate facilities and support, can excel at both national and international levels,” he stated. He credited Hazara Division Association President Sardar Muhammad Rizwan and Secretary Shaukat Hussain for their vital role in developing local talent and promoting gymnastics in the area.
Reflecting on his own journey, Orakzai shared that he began gymnastics in the fifth grade under coach Muhammad Raja at Shahibagh Gymnastics Club in Peshawar’s Deen Bahar Colony. Frequent competitions during that time fueled his passion for the sport, but his training was disrupted when his family relocated to their ancestral town in Hangu.
Despite this setback, his dedication to gymnastics never waned. Over the years, he has pursued multiple technical and coaching courses under the Pakistan Gymnastics Federation, as well as programs organized with the Pakistan Olympic Association and the Asian Olympic Committee.
“By the grace of Allah, I’ve had the privilege of serving as a technical official in both provincial and national-level competitions,” Orakzai said.
He concluded by urging the government and sports authorities to equip local clubs with the necessary resources. “If the right facilities are provided, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa has the potential to produce gymnasts of international caliber,” he affirmed.
