PSA: Stricter NOCs guidelines for sports federations

ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Sports Authority (PSA) introduced a fresh set of regulations for sports organisations seeking No Objection Certificates (NOCs) for their sportspersons to engage in different competitions.

The initiative is aimed at improving transparency and guarantee that the selection process was grounded solely in “merit”.

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According to the updated PSA regulations, sports organisations must now present comprehensive performance data of the sportspersons chosen for international events when applying for NOCs.

The process will now involve a thorough analysis of the athletes’ previous performances. This would then be evaluated to ensure that only the most qualified sportspersons would be selected to represent the nation.

Sports bodies are also required to confirm that the selection of athletes was conducted exclusively on merit. The stipulation is designed to eradicate any biases or partiality that may have previously affected the selection process.

The PSA said it was “dedicated” to cultivating a culture of “fairness” and “integrity” within the sports sector, and that the new regulations were an important step toward that objective.

After each event concluded, sports bodies were mandated to submit a detailed assessment report on the athletes’ performances. The report would serve as an important instrument for evaluating the efficiency of the selection process and the overall performance of the athletes.

The PSA said it believes that these assessments will yield “valuable insights” into the athletes’ strengths and weaknesses. This will help facilitate improved preparation for future competitions.

Global Youth Scrabble Tournament

Meanwhile, on the inaugural day of the ongoing Global Youth Scrabble Tournament in Colombo, Pakistanis came up on top, as they dominated the rankings with outstanding performances.

By the end of the day, six Pakistani players found themselves among the top ten contenders in the competition.

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At the forefront was 12-year-old Ahmed Salman, who won all eight of his matches and secured first place. His undefeated record made him the only player among the 138 participants to achieve such a feat.

Trailing closely was 16-year-old Affan Salman, who claimed the second position after winning seven matches.

Meanwhile, In third place was India’s Madhav Kamat, while Pakistan’s Ahzam Ahmed held the fourth position, also with seven victories to his credit.

The Pakistani team continued to shine, with Bilal Ashar in fifth place, Manal Ashar in sixth, and Muhammad Yadan completing the top ten.

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Besides the main tournament, Pakistan’s Wasim Khatri led the side event, defeating six out of seven matches on the very first day.

As the tournament advances, nine additional matches are scheduled for the second day, providing an opportunity for the Pakistani players to further solidify their victories.