Inam receives Pride of Performance award

KARACHI: The Pride of Performance award was on Saturday conferred on Pakistan's premier wrestler Mohammad Inam for his meritorious services for the country as a grappler.

Governor Punjab Chaudhry Mohammad Sarwar presented him the award at a special ceremony held at the Governor House in Lahore in connection with the Pakistan Day on Saturday.

"I am really happy to have got an award at a young age for the services I have rendered for the country in the field of wrestling," Inam told 'The News'.

"I saw that most of the award winners were either dead or at a very old age and I am lucky that I have got such a major award when I am at the prime of my career. It's a real blessing," Inam said.

Besides having claimed gold medals at the South Asian level, Inam has to his credit two gold medals in the Commonwealth Games and two World Beach Championships titles.

He is regarded as the best wrestler Pakistan has ever produced.

However, Inam said that although he got the award but it was important for the state to back him for his future events.

"It's good that I have got award but it will not help me in the events to come. I will need quality training for the coming events. I also told the Governor Punjab that the government has stopped camps and is doing nothing and we have important events ahead of us," he said.

Pakistan will feature in the Asian Championships next month and World Championships later this year. The participation in the Asian Championships is compulsory for featuring in the global event.

Inam said that he will also attend the international athletes forum in Switzerland to be held on April 11.