Sports Report
ISLAMABAD (May 4, 2020):-Dr. Fehmida Mirza Federal Minister for Inter Provincial Coordination (IPC) distributed the cheques among the members of Pakistan Weightlifting and Tennis Teams that won medals in the 13th South Asian Games, were held in Nepal from 1-10 December, 2019.
It is important to mention here that Weightlifting team won 5 gold, 2 silver and 1 bronze medals. Weightlifters Talha Talib, Haider Ali, Usman Amjad Rathore, Hanzla Dastgir Butt and Mohammad Nooh Dastgir Butt won gold medals while Abu Sufyan and Rabbia Razzaq won silver medals and Saima Shahzad had claimed bronze medals. Similarly, Tennis players Aisam-ul-Haq Qureshi, Aqeel Khan, Muzammil Murtaza and Mohammad Abid had claimed silver in men’s team event, Sara Mansoor, Ushna Sohail, Mahin Aftaz Qureshi and Sarah Mehboob Khan won Bronze medals in women team event. Aisam and Ushna Sohail won Bronze in Mixed Double, Mohammad Abid and Sara Mansoor also won bronze in mixed double event. Men’s double event Aisam and Aqeel Khan won bronze medal.
In men’s double event Muzammil Murtaza and Mohammad Abid won bronze medal. Aqeel Khan won bronze in men’s singles. Muzammil Murtaza won bronze in men’s singles as well. In line with approved cash award policy, gold medalists were given Rs.1.000 million each, silver medalists got Rs.500, 000 while bronze medalists received cheques of Rs.250, 000 each.
Total Rs.6.250 million and Rs.5.500 million were distributed to the Weightlifters and tennis players respectively. Parliamentary Secretary of Ministry of IPC Saima Nadeem, Col. Gul Rehman Secretary General Pakistan Tennis Federation, Azam Dar Deputy DG PSB and parents of few athletes were present on the occasion.
Talking to the players, Dr. Fehmida Mirza Minister for IPC/President PSB congratulated the medal winners and informed that half of the population of Pakistan is comprised of women. Their participation in the social life especially in the sports is commendable. She also appreciated the role of their parents who encouraged to their daughters to excel in the field of sports. Minister was of the view that these shinning players are the ambassadors of Pakistan who portray the soft image of Pakistan while representing their country abroad. Despite the fact that sports is a devolved subject and provinces should take lead to allocate appropriate resources to encourage players training, provision of coaches, talent hunt, make enabling environment for the masses to take participation in healthy activities etc that Federal Government would continue to support the talented players to replace the stalwarts, she assured to the participations. Ministry of IPC and PSB is taking lead to resolve the issues of the players being faced in the current Covid-19 Pandemic. In this regard, a video conference with the provincial sports ministers will be arranged.
Mohammad Nooh Dastgir Butt, Gold Medalist, 12th and 13th SA Games, Bronze Medals Commonwealth Games 2018 and other players appreciated the role being played by Dr.Fehmida Mirza at this critical time. This is for the first time that players are receiving their reward in the form of cash prize money well in time which would definitely boost the morale of the players. This would definitely held their families and also facilitate for future endeavors. The medal winners emphasized that besides the federal government support provinces must play their due role to support the talented players so that youth, a major portion of the country, may utilize their energies in healthier sports activities and it can also make enabling environment for the youngsters to choose sports as their profession.
