In order to encourage and honour its players who won medals for Pakistan while representing the country in the 18th Asian Games and other international sports events afterwards in 2018, WAPDA Sports Board arranged a prize distribution ceremony at WAPDA House among WAPDA players.
WAPDA Chairman and WAPDA Sports Board Patron-in-Chief Lt Gen Muzammil Hussain (Retd) was the chief guest on the ceremony, who presented cash awards to as many as 15 WAPDA players and officials. WAPDA Sports Board office bearers and senior WAPDA officers were also present on the occasion.
The players and officials received cash awards included Nargis (Karate), Shah Muhammad (Karate Coach), Arshad Nadeem (Athletics), Syed Fiaz Hussain (Athletics Coach), Hassan Raza (Kabaddi Asian Style), Nauh Dastigir Butt (Weight Lifting), Talha Talib (Weight Lifting), Haseeb Tariq (Swimming), Muhammad Inam (Wrestling), Inayat Ullah (Wrestling), Abbas Zeb (Squash), Haider Ali (Athletics), Nadia Maqsood (Power Lifting), Rabia Razzaq (Power Lifting), and Sybil Sohail (Power Lifting).
Addressing the ceremony, WAPDA Chairman congratulated medalists on their performance. He expressed the hope that WAPDA players would continue to bring laurels to Pakistan in international events. “A lot of improvement is needed to elevate Pakistan in international sports event, all stakeholders have to play their role in this in this regard” said the Chairman.
Highlighting the significance of sports, he further said that sports alone could effectively counter most of the national issues such as terrorism, extremism and the fragile economy.
It is worth mentioning that WAPDA has been playing a phenomenal role for promotion of sports in Pakistan for the last 58 years. WAPDA players have not only been showing their class at the national level but also bringing success to Pakistan in international competitions.
WAPDA players have won 8 gold, two silver and 13 bronze medals for Pakistan in various international sports events during 2018 so far. On the other hand, WAPDA is also winner in 21 disciplines, and runners-up in 14 games in various national championships played in 2018 so far.
WAPDA is the biggest employer of sportspersons in Pakistan, as more than 2200 players and sports officials are associated with various units of WSB across the country, WAPDA has 66 teams –
37 men and 29 women – of different games.