LAHORE: The Punjab government today (Tuesday) has announced Rs1million for Arshad Nadeem javelin thrower Arshad Nadeem, weightlifter Talha Talib and mountaineer Shehroz Kashif for their recent performances.
Addressing a press conference in Lahore, Punjab Sports Minister Rai Taimur Khan Bhatti hailed the athletes for their remarkable gains, saying that Pakistan’s participants Nadeem and Talib “did really well” in the competition.
The provincial minister said that he would personally visit the airport to receive Nadeem. “The Government of Punjab had always supported and encouraged sportspersons,” he added.
He also announced an award of Rs0.5m for Nadeem’s coach. The minister further said the Punjab government would bear travel expenses of Haider Ali and Nabila Baig, who will take part in the Paralympic Games.
Nadeem missed out on an Olympic medal and finished fifth in the javelin throw event at the Tokyo Olympics, but the athlete from Mian Chunnu received wide acclaim for his achievement with little resources.
Similarly, weightlifter Talha Talib from Gujranwala took part in the 67kg category in the Tokyo Olympics and held the gold medal spot until the final round before eventually being bumped down and finishing fifth in the competition.
19-year-old Kashif had on July 27 become the youngest person to reach the summit of K2 — the world’s second-highest peak at a height of 8,611 metres (28,251 foot) above sea level — with the aid of bottled oxygen.
