Pakistan Sports Board (PSB) hosted a cash award ceremony here at Pakistan Sports Complex late Thursday to honour the medal winners of South Asian Games (India) and Asian Beach Games (Vietnam).
Federal Minister for Inter Provincial Coordination (IPC) Mian Riaz Husain Pirzada was the chief guest at the occasion. Pakistan Olympic Association (POA) Secretary Khalid Mehmood, PSB Director General Muhammad Akhtar Nawaz Ganjera, PSB (E&C) Director Muhammad Azam Dar, PSB Director Agha Amjadullah, PSB (Women Cell) Assistant Director Shazia Ejaz and officials of federations and players were also present on the occasion.
26 gold, 69 silver and 109 bronze medals were won in the games. The winners of South Asian Games received gold medal, Rs one million; silver medal, Rs 500,000 and bronze medal, Rs 250,000. The winners of Asian Beach Games were given gold medal Rs 500,000; silver medal Rs 250,000 and Rs 100,000 to bronze medalists.
Speaking on the occasion, the minister said that Pakistan Army has restored peace in the country which had resulted in revival of sports. He praised the PSB DG Dr Akhtar Nawaz Ganjera for holding the best possible reception for the medal winners. He urged all the chief ministers to encourage traditional sports like wrestling in the regions.
He praised the young Pakistani cricketers for putting up a good show in the Champions Trophy and Pakistan Super League (PSL). “PCB Chairman Najam Sethi had been doing great work and hopefully the next edition of PSL would be held in Pakistan,” he said.
He said that the Quaid-e-Azam Games would be staged like any other international game and inputs from every platform would be taken to host the games in the best possible manner.
Ganjera praised the minister for making utmost efforts for the players to be awarded with cash awards. “This time we won’t be giving any cash awards to coaches of both the games as the policy restricts us to do so but we are working on it and in future coaches will also be rewarded.
