Blab Sports
Pakistan Table Tennis Federation Demands Players Self-Fund Asian Games Participation
During a two‑day national trials in Lahore, Pakistan’s top men’s and women’s table‑tennis athletes were stunned when the Pakistan Table Tennis Federation (PTTF) told them they must cover their own travel and daily expenses for the 2026 Asian Games in Nagoya, Japan. The federation’s message came after players asked about the allowances that had been promised for the trials and for the Games.
A player, who declined to be named, explained: “We have been told that we will not be paid anything for appearing in the trials. Secondly, the players selected for the Asian Games will have to arrange their own air tickets and foreign currency at the rate of USD 50 per day to cover expenses during the Games.” When the athletes protested, a senior PTTF official reminded them that the trials had been organized and that the federation had not received any funds or grants from the Pakistan Sports Board (PSB). The same player questioned, “We were told that even for the Asian Games, the PTTF is not receiving any grant or funds from the PSB, which is strange. Is this how sports is promoted in Pakistan?”
The PSB, established in 1962 under the Ministry of Education and now under the Ministry of Inter‑Provincial Coordination, allocates annual and special grants to national sports federations. These grants are intended to cover day‑to‑day expenses and to support participation in international events. According to the PSB’s framework, special grants are approved by the executive committee after reviewing a federation’s popularity, international achievements and planned activities. The PTTF’s claim that it has received no PSB grant for the Asian Games raises questions about the federation’s financial oversight and its ability to support athletes.
The Pakistan Olympic Association (POA) has recently proposed a performance‑based grant system for national federations under the National Sports Policy 2026. The POA’s draft model, inspired by Qatar’s sports funding structure, would tie grant amounts to measurable results such as medal counts and world rankings. The PTTF’s current lack of funding suggests that the federation has not yet benefited from either the existing PSB grant system or the proposed POA model.
Pakistan has never won a table‑tennis medal at the Asian Games or at the Asian Championships. The sport has been contested at every Asian Games since 1958, except in 1970, and the field has been dominated by China, South Korea, Malaysia and India. The absence of a medal record reflects both the high level of competition and the limited resources available to Pakistani athletes.
The 2026 Asian Games will be held in Aichi Prefecture, Japan, from 19 September to 4 October. Table tennis will feature singles, doubles and team events for men and women, as it has since the Games’ inception. Pakistan’s participation will depend on the athletes’ ability to secure travel and accommodation funds, a task that the federation has now placed on the athletes themselves.
In summary, the PTTF’s decision to require athletes to self‑fund their participation in the 2026 Asian Games has created uncertainty for Pakistan’s table‑tennis community. The federation has not received a PSB grant for the Games, and the athletes have been told they will receive no allowances for the national trials. With the Games scheduled for late September, the athletes face a tight window to arrange travel, secure foreign currency and manage daily expenses. The situation remains unresolved until the federation confirms its funding strategy or the athletes secure alternative sponsorships.
The outcome will have implications for Pakistan’s representation at the Games, the athletes’ preparation, and the broader debate over sports funding in the country.
A player, who declined to be named, explained: “We have been told that we will not be paid anything for appearing in the trials. Secondly, the players selected for the Asian Games will have to arrange their own air tickets and foreign currency at the rate of USD 50 per day to cover expenses during the Games.” When the athletes protested, a senior PTTF official reminded them that the trials had been organized and that the federation had not received any funds or grants from the Pakistan Sports Board (PSB). The same player questioned, “We were told that even for the Asian Games, the PTTF is not receiving any grant or funds from the PSB, which is strange. Is this how sports is promoted in Pakistan?”
The PSB, established in 1962 under the Ministry of Education and now under the Ministry of Inter‑Provincial Coordination, allocates annual and special grants to national sports federations. These grants are intended to cover day‑to‑day expenses and to support participation in international events. According to the PSB’s framework, special grants are approved by the executive committee after reviewing a federation’s popularity, international achievements and planned activities. The PTTF’s claim that it has received no PSB grant for the Asian Games raises questions about the federation’s financial oversight and its ability to support athletes.
The Pakistan Olympic Association (POA) has recently proposed a performance‑based grant system for national federations under the National Sports Policy 2026. The POA’s draft model, inspired by Qatar’s sports funding structure, would tie grant amounts to measurable results such as medal counts and world rankings. The PTTF’s current lack of funding suggests that the federation has not yet benefited from either the existing PSB grant system or the proposed POA model.
Pakistan has never won a table‑tennis medal at the Asian Games or at the Asian Championships. The sport has been contested at every Asian Games since 1958, except in 1970, and the field has been dominated by China, South Korea, Malaysia and India. The absence of a medal record reflects both the high level of competition and the limited resources available to Pakistani athletes.
The 2026 Asian Games will be held in Aichi Prefecture, Japan, from 19 September to 4 October. Table tennis will feature singles, doubles and team events for men and women, as it has since the Games’ inception. Pakistan’s participation will depend on the athletes’ ability to secure travel and accommodation funds, a task that the federation has now placed on the athletes themselves.
In summary, the PTTF’s decision to require athletes to self‑fund their participation in the 2026 Asian Games has created uncertainty for Pakistan’s table‑tennis community. The federation has not received a PSB grant for the Games, and the athletes have been told they will receive no allowances for the national trials. With the Games scheduled for late September, the athletes face a tight window to arrange travel, secure foreign currency and manage daily expenses. The situation remains unresolved until the federation confirms its funding strategy or the athletes secure alternative sponsorships.
The outcome will have implications for Pakistan’s representation at the Games, the athletes’ preparation, and the broader debate over sports funding in the country.
