ISLAMABAD: The Athletics Federation of Pakistan (AFP) on Tuesday said the Ministry of Inter Provincial Coordination (IPC) and Pakistan Sports Board (PSB) should pay heed to the athletes who have performed extraordinary well at the international circuit saying they need to be given confidence so their talent doesn't fade.
Talking to APP, AFP President Maj. Gen. (R) Muhammad Akram Sahi said Pakistan athletics team participated in the Youth Athletics Championships held from May 8 to 11 at Doha, Qatar and Muhammad Afzal won a gold medal in the Triple Jump in the said Championship. "He made a history as no such medal has been won by any Pakistani in any previous youth competition," he said.
Sahi said he is deeply saddened with IPC and PSB as they didn't even say a single word of appreciation for the gold medalist. "I am a sportsman and have always promoted sports, but at least one should encourage youth," he said.
Sahi had also previously announced cash incentives of Rs 100,000 for Afzal, Rs 10,000 each for Shahbaz and Wajid and Rs 20,000 for coach Maqsood for their performance in the Youth Athletics Championships.
Sahi said neither the IPC nor the PSB had announced any cash reward for any of the athletes. "If not for others but at least they should have announced cash reward for Afzal as he is the first ever athlete to win a gold medal at Asian level, no one in the history of Pakistan had manage to achieve that feat," he said.
Sahi said athletes need to be appreciated and given confidence to motivate them.
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