ISLAMABAD: Federal Sports Minister Mir Ijaz Jakhrani told the National Assembly on Wednesday that the government has announced a cash reward of Rs. 0.5 million each for the two female athletes who won gold medals in South Asian Games.

Sprinter Nasim Hameed set a new record in 100-meter race while Sara Nasir bagged a gold in karate. “Both players have done the country proud and performed superbly,” Jakhrani said.

Jakhrani assured that the govt would fully support these athletes and assist them in coaching and other requirements.

“They are our assets and we’d send both young players to Commonwealth Games as well as the Olympics.”

Earlier, MNA Khushbakht Shujaat, appealed to the Prime Minister to boost female sports by providing good facilities for them.

MNA Marvi Memon eulogised the tremendous performance of female athletes at the South Asian games on behalf of her party. She called for establishing a specific fund for supporting female sports in the country, particularly to encourage those belonging to poor families.

Our Islamabad correspondent adds: The Senate on Wednesday called upon the Federal Government to provide a job to Pakistani athlete Naseem Hameed who emerged as the fastest woman athlete in the South Asian Games. The 22-year-old athlete entered her name in the history books of the South Asian Games when she clinched gold by leading eight runners in the 100-metre sprint to record her career-best feat at the Banglabandhu National Stadium in Dhaka.

A resolution passed by the upper house states: “It is indeed a tremendous achievement but it requires praise, support and appreciation ... She belongs to a family living below the poverty line.”

“The Federal Government has been requested to provide her [Naseem] with a job in any autonomous, semi-autonomous body or corporation such as PIA, etc., and her training programme, too, should be taken up by the government.”

The resolution further said that “Naseem has shown potential for further victories, if properly trained ... A civil award may be bestowed upon her.”

Meanwhile, in a point of order raised by women legislators in the National Assembly, Marvi Memon, from PML(Q), and Khush Bakht Shujaat, from MQM, also called on the government to provide Naseem with better sporting facilities and a regular means for earning a livelihood.LINK