Prize money proposal cheers up players, organisers

KARACHI: Players and organisers of various disciplines have appreciated PSB’s proposal to enhance the prize money for medal winners of Olympic Games, world championships, Champions Trophy, Asian Games, Commonwealth Games, SAFF Games, and Islamic Solidarity Games.
The players said that increase in the prize money had been due for a long time and the proposal was a good sign.
The exact increases would be announced when the PSB’s proposal was formally approved, sources said.
All sportsmen and sportswomen who won medals at IOC’s events would be entitled to get millions of rupees, the chairman of PSB committee Samiullah said.
The players of national senior and junior hockey teams termed the decision timely as they had suffered the most because of the static prize money.
Prize money is due to them for having won 2012 Asian Champions Trophy gold medal and 2014 Asian Games and Champions Trophy silver medals.
Athletics coach Imran Khan said that the increase would be great for the sports community. He said that it had been felt for a long that the youngsters of the country were little inclined to choose a sports career.
He said that PSB’s committee led by Samiullah had done a marvelous job to propose doubling of the prize money. “Now sportsmen and sportswomen should take advantage and try hard to win medals at international events. The gold medal winners might get even Rs20 million, he said.
Majeed Brohi, SAF Games gold medalist boxer, also applauded the decision. “Most of the players come from a poor background and if they remain empty-handed even after winning medals internationally it is ridiculous,” he said.
Former FIFA referee and football organiser Ahmed Jan said it would be an historic decision. He said that sports got recognition for Pakistan at a time when it was known in the world only for terrorists’ attacks.
He said that only a sportsman like Samillah could understand the importance of this thing.