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18 March 2005, 01:00 pm

Sri Lanka Confirms Participation

Pakistan Day International Sailing Regatta 2005

Karachi, Pakistan

Sri Lanka have confirmed their participation in the Pakistan Day International Sailing Regatta to be held from 19-23 March at DHA Marina Club in Karachi.

According to an official of Pakistan Youth Sailing Association (PYSA) Indian judges will supervise the five-day event.

About 40 sailors will be featuring in the two classes at the event, the Optimist and Laser 4.7. The event will be organized by Pakistan Youth Sailing Association (PYSA) authorized by the Pakistan Sailing Federation (PSAF). The Regatta will be sailed according to the racing rules of Sailing (RRS).

The opening ceremony will be held at 1700 hours (local time Pakistan) on 19 March at the DA Marina Club in Karachi, whilst the closing ceremony will be held at 1900 on 23 March at the National Sailing Center. Trophies and other prizes will be awarded for the first three winners of each class and the first three girls in Optimist Class. Certificates and souvenirs will also be distributed among the participants.

General Secretary PSAF Captain ARSHAD,
President PSAF Rear Admiral Asad QURESHI and
Team Manager PYSA Tariq IKRAM

The PSAF President Rear Admiral Asad QURESHI said the intention is for the regatta to be repeated next year and used as a build-up for youth sailors preparing for the 2006 Asian Games to be held at Doha, Qatar in December next year. The championship is being organized by the Pakistan Youth Sailing Association (PYSA).

'The sailing teams from Norway, Sri Lanka, Qatar and Abu Dhabi have so far confirmed their participation in the Regatta,' said QURESHI and added that initially Sri Lankan sailors had showed their inability to come to Pakistan owing to the disaster caused by the tsunami in their country. Now, they have sent their confirmation. The PSAF is expecting more countries to participate in the event. 'The main objective to hold the International Regatta is to develop the youth continent of Pakistan for the Asian Games at Doha in 2006,' he said.

The PSAF recently held an awards ceremony in recognition of the supporters of youth sailing in Pakistan where Rear Admiral QURESHI formally announced the first International Pakistan Regatta for youth classes. At the ceremony the PYSA flag was hoisted for the fist time and the PYSA youth sailors received their first uniforms.