Govt to support athletes like Talha in future: DG PSB

KARACHI: Appreciating premier weightlifter Talha Talib’s performance in Tokyo Olympics, the Director General of Pakistan Sports Board (PSB) Col (retd) Asif Zaman on Monday said that he would be properly backed by the state in future.

“I really appreciate the way Talha showed his guts in Tokyo. Definitely we will back him and all those elite athletes who perform well,” Asif told ‘The News’. He said that full-fledged facilities would be provided to him and would be backed well ahead of the next Olympics.

Asif urged federations to raise their performances and the state would be by their side. “It is the job of the federations to work hard and show performance. If more players like Talha show their guts at such a high level they definitely will be backed properly. The state will support deserving athletes,” Asif said.

He expects a splendid performance from javelin thrower Arshad Nadeem. “Arshad is highly talented and I expect a lot from him in the Tokyo Games. We have fully backed him in his training and preparations and have also looked after the other athletes who are competing in Tokyo,” said Asif, a former squash player.

He said that the PSB completely supported ten athletes and two coaches who are in Tokyo. Asif said that the state is working on a sports policy. “When it is finalised it will bring a sea change in the sports standards in the country,” he added.

Asif said he would like more athletes to go for the 2024 Olympics. “We InshaAllah will make a proper plan for this and top quality training will be provided to the elite athletes so that more could make it to the 2024 Paris Games,” he said. He said that this was the first time in history that no official of the PSB went to the Olympics.