A solitary second-half goal by Abdullah M helped Qatar beat India in the preliminary football league of the fourth World Military Games here on Friday evening. The all-important goal came in the 52nd minute.

This is the second consecutive defeat for the hosts, who lost 0-3 to Brazil in their first match on Wednesday.

In other matches on Friday, Brazil beat Afghanistan 6-0, Egypt defeated Canada 5-1, while two other matches — Ireland vs Guinea Republic and Cameroon vs Germany — ended in 1-1 draws.

Meanwhile, Pakistan has erred in refusing to participate in the World Military Games here from October 14 to 21, a top official of the organising committee said. “I do not understand why Pakistan is staying away. We have tried our best to convince them. They have lost an opportunity to create friendly atmosphere,” Brigadier General Dr Gianni Gola, President of Conseil International du Sport Militaire (CISM), told reporters here.

The CISM or International Council for Military Sports, which is organising the second largest sporting event after the Olympics, has membership of the Armed Forces of 127 countries.

As many as 5,126 participants from 102 countries will vie for top honours in 13 disciplines at the 4th Military World Games, being hosted by India for the first time. Pakistan had participated in the previous three editions of the Military Games but chose to stay away this time around, despite repeated reminders from CISM.

Following this, the CISM rejected Pakistan’s proposal to host the General Assembly of the International sporting body in 2009.

“We have told them that it will be impossible for us to consider their proposal if they fail to participate in the games here,” Gola said. Asked why the Asian country had refused to take part in the games, he said, “They have not given any reasons for their absence. They have done a mistake and we will underline this,” Gola said.

He, however, said he was more than happy with the response as 102 countries were participating in the games, whose motto is friendship through sports.

On whether he was satisfied with security arrangements against the backdrop of the recent bomb blasts, the CISM chief replied in the affirmative.

“I am one hundred percent sure that authorities here are doing their best. I am very optimistic,” he said. China and Germany are sending the largest contingents, with over 200 athletes each, while India are fielding 196 participants.

The Military World Games are held once in four years under the aegis of Brussels-based CISM, the second largest sporting body after International Olympic Association.

The games were first held in Rome in 1995, marking the 50th anniversary of the end of World War II and the ratification of the UN Charter. The second Military World Games were held in Zagreb, Croatia (August 1999) and the third again in Italy (Dec 2003). The Games are being held for the first time outside Europe.