Country’s top athletes called on Adviser to Chief Minister Punjab on Sports and Youth Affairs Wahab Riaz

Monday, March 27, 2023

Country’s top athletes and sports officials called on Adviser to Chief Minister Punjab on Sports and Youth Affairs Wahab Riaz under Elite Players Meet up initiative at National Hockey Stadium on Monday.

The important meeting was convened to provide top athletes of the country an opportunity to share their issues including training, nutrition, funding and participation in international sports events.

Director General Sports Punjab Muhammad Tariq Qureshi, Director Youth Affairs Syed Umair Hassan were also present in the meeting.

Vice captain and World Cup winning kabaddi star Shafiq Chishti, Olympian Arshad Nadeem, Paralympic gold medallist Haider Ali, World Snooker Champion Ahsan Ramzan, World Beach Wrestling Champion Inam Butt, top athlete Shajar Abbas, Commonwealth medalist wrestler Shareef Tahir, national junior cyclist Fatima Tahir, athlete Syed Aqib Shah, national cyclists Sajid, Talal and athletics official Salman Iqbal Butt also participated in the meeting.

Adviser to Chief Minister Punjab on Sports and Youth Affairs Wahab Riaz asked the players about their problems and assured them that all possible measures will be taken to resolve their issues.

Addressing the meeting, Adviser to Chief Minister Punjab on Sports and Youth Affairs Wahab Riaz said that the top athletes of the country will be provided all necessary facilities for modern training, nutrition, conditioning etc. “The services of top foreign coaches will be hired for the coaching of top national athletes,” he added.

Adviser to Chief Minister Punjab on Sports and Youth Affairs Wahab Riaz further said that sports facilities in Punjab will be developed on modern lines and all possible measures will be taken for the development of sports culture across the province. “The doors of my office are open all the time for all players. They can share their issues and any kind of problems with me,” he added.

Director General Sports Punjab Muhammad Tariq Qureshi on this occasion said that a sports endowment fund of Rs 2 billion is ready and it will be implemented soon. “Sports Board Punjab will provide scholarships and stipends to players. Besides this, the top players will also be extended financial support for their participation in international sports events,” he added.

Director General Sports Punjab Muhammad Tariq Qureshi further said that a wrestling academy is being established in Gujranwala. Besides this we are also planning to build a wrestling academy in Lahore. “Javelin throw track will be built in Mian Channu while a Kabaddi stadium will be constructed in Sahiwal”.

Top athletes appreciated Sports Board Punjab’s initiatives for the welfare of players. Vice captain and World Cup winning kabaddi star Shafiq Chishti on this occasion said that Sports Board Punjab has always supported the players financially. World Beach Wrestling Champion Inam Butt said that the measures of Sports Board Punjab for the promotion of sports are commendable.