Hockey team may get cash awards soon

KARACHI: The chief coach of national hockey team Shahnaz Sheikh has contacted PSB Director General Akhtar Nawaz Ganjera for release of the prize money and cash awards for winning silver medals at the Asian Games and Champions Trophy last year, ‘The News’ learnt on Tuesday.
Sources said that financial issues of the Green-shirts and their management were increasing day by day. A number of players who represent Pakistan do not have any job nor have they been getting salaries for past one and a half years.
According to the sports policy, prize money is given to the players who win medals at big sports competitions across the globe.
The national hockey team won back-to-back silver medals for reaching the finals of the Asian Games and the Champions Trophy last year. Ganjera assured Shahnaz that PSB had sent a summary to ministry of IPC for approval of funds and prize money for the hockey players.
The PSB sources said that all those athletes who won medals at the Asian Games would be given their due prize money.
It is expected that a handsome amount will be released to the members of national hockey team and their management when funds are released by the PSB.
When Shahnaz Sheikh contacted he confirmed that his meeting was held with DG PSB, who assured him that prizes of the players of national hockey team would be released soon.
A big reception is being given in the honour of national hockey team and its management in Sialkot on Tuesday (today) by Sialkot Chamber of Commerce and some other organisations.
It is expected that the players will be awarded cash prizes to acknowledge their efforts they put in the major events.