ISLAMABAD: An international sailing competition has started in the country’s southern Karachi port city, said the Pakistan Navy on Wednesday, bringing together a number of participants from the Middle Eastern and other countries to help enhance the skill of national players to participate in Olympics and other competitions.
This is the first time the Chief of the Naval Staff International Sailing Regatta has been organized. The championship will continue for the rest of the week and conclude on March 20.
“The objective of the competition is to foster water sports culture by bringing together sailors from both national and foreign countries,” the navy said in a statement. “The event aims to offer a platform for young Pakistani talents to train alongside some of the world’s top sailors and gain sailing tactics from their experiences, thereby enhancing potential of national team for future participation in international events like Asian games, Olympics etc.”
“Sailors from various countries including Australia, Bahrain, Egypt, Malaysia, Oman, Singapore, Sri Lanka, and Thailand alongside Pakistani sailors will participate and demonstrate their skills by competing in various categories of the competition in waters of Karachi,” it added.
The event, which was inaugurated by the president of the Pakistan Sailing Federation, Rear Admiral Muhammad Saleem, was attended by senior officials and participants of the tournament.
The Pakistan Navy has also patronized water sports in the past and sponsored other athletic activities, including hockey, squash and golf.
