PSB awards cash prizes to medallists

KARACHI: Pakistan Sports Board (PSB) on late Thursday night awarded cash prizes to the medallists of 12th South Asian Games and 5th Asian Beach Games at a special ceremony organised at the Board’s headquarters in Islamabad.

The winners of gold medals were handed over Rs1 million each, the silver medallists got Rs500,000 each, while Rs250,000 each went to the bronze medallists.The federal minister for Inter-Provincial Coordination (IPC) Riaz Pirzada handed over cheques to the medallists.

The function was also attended by the officials of national federations, top officials of IPC and the PSB.The families of the medallists also attended the function which was held quite late due to budgetary issues.

Pakistan hockey team, which had lifted gold in the South Asian Games in India, had been extended cash prizes last year at a reception extended in honour of the squad by former Prime Minister Mian Nawaz Sharif who was patron-in-chief of Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF). Pakistan had captured 12 gold, 37 silver and 57 bronze medals in the South Asian Games.

In the Asian Beach Games Pakistan had claimed two gold, three silver and six bronze.The gold medallist squash player Nasir Iqbal did not get his prize as he has already been banned after failing a dope test.

Lianna Swan, Dubai-based Pakistani swimmer, also received her cheques for lifting one gold, one silver and one bronze medal in the South Asian Games. She had come from London where she studies. Lianna, who was part of Pakistan’s squad in the 2016 Rio Olympics, is one of the strongest swimmers of the country. She had missed the Islamic Games held in Baku last May due to her exams.