POA contradicts reports over selection of Pak flag bearer in Rio

Contradicting the reports regarding a difference of opinion with the Pakistan Sports Board (PSB) over the selection of Pakistani shooter Ghulam Mustafa Bashir to lift the national flag in the opening ceremony of the Rio Olympics, the Pakistan Olympic Association (POA) has said there were no last minute changes.

Issuing a press release from Rio de Janeiro on Saturday, POA secretary Khalid Mahmood said there are 'absolutely no differences between the POA and the PSB,' reports the Dawn.

"It is being reported that there has been a last minute change in the flag-bearer of the Pakistan contingent and that there are difference of opinion in the selection between the PSB and POA. This release is being issued to put the record straight," he said.

"There are absolutely no differences between the POA and the PSB. The final decision for the flag-bearer was taken just yesterday and the chef de mission Shaukat Javed issued a press release in this regard. No announcement regarding the same was made prior to this and it was a surprise to learn that different names were being floated," he added in the press release.

The press release concluded with a request saying the athletes, however, few they may be, should be allowed to participate without any tensions so they could give their best.