KARACHI, Jan 3: Participation of sailors in the biennial pre-Asian sailing regatta in Qatar in March will form nucleus for the selection of Pakistan team for the 2006 Asian Games being held at the same venue at the fag end of the year.

Though late, this will mark the beginning of final preparation for the Asian Games to be held at Doha, Qatar, from Dec 1 to 15, secretary PSAF, Capt (retd) S. V. Hasan, told Dawn on Tuesday.

Pakistan plans to send a strong team that will feature in Laser Std, Rad, 470, 420, Mistral, Optimist, Hobie-16, and Match Racing events at the pre-Asian Regatta being held from March 15 to 26.

Pakistan returned with two silver and a bronze from the last pre-Asian regatta held at Mumbai in 2004. The recipients were Riaz-Shahahyar (silver) and Mamoon-Zahid Rauf (bronze) in Enterprise and M. Tanveer (silver) in Mistral.

Though pre-Asian Regatta would be preceded by two more competitions but they were of less importance.

Sailors representing Optimist and Laser 4.7 will feature in the Mina Sehai international regatta at Dubai from Jan 22 to 29 and later they will make their presence felt at the World Enterprise championship in Sri Lanka from Feb 12 to 18.

The PSAF has listed 14 international competitions, both for senior and junior sailors, culminating in the participation in the Asian Games.

In addition, the PSAF has also worked out a hectic domestic programme for the sailors.

International regattas:

Mina Sehai Regatta (Dubai) Jan 22 to 29; Enterprise World championship (Sri Lanka) Feb 12 to 18; pre-Asian regatta (Doha) March 15 to 26; ISAF world sailing games (Aut)May10 to 20; Kiel Week (Germany) June 17 to 25; Al-Bareh regatta (Bahrain) June 19 to 23; SAYR (Mumbai) July 5 to 10; IODA sailing championship (TPE) July 27 to Aug 5; Istanbul sailing week (Istanbul) July 30 to Aug 5; Optimist sailing week (Istanbul) Aug 13 to 18; Mistral Cup (Italy) Oct 16 to 21; Windsurfing championship (Hong Kong) Nov 16 to 21; Al- Kharafi regatta (Kuwait) Dec 4 to 8; Asian Games (Qatar) Dec 1 to 15.

Domestic regattas:

PN Open 470 championship Feb 1 to 4; 470 national championship March 28 to 31; PN Open Laser championship April 7 to 9; Laser national championship April 18 to 21; Laser Open sailing championship April 22 to 25; PN Open Enterprise championship May 26 to 29; Defence Day Cup Sept 7 to 10; National Optimist championship Sept 15 to 17; National Enterprise championship Sept 29 to Oct 1; Laser 4.7 national championship Oct 5 to 8; Manora Cup Oct 26 to 29; PN Open 420 championship Nov 2 to 5; Yari Cup Nov 16 to 19; and 470 national championship Nov 27 to 30.