After hockey players, squash team joins the chorus
KARACHI: After the outburst of hockey players over not receiving the prize money announced in recognition of their remarkable achievement at the 16th Asian Games, Pakistan’s squash players are also questioning the delay in payments.
Pakistan’s squash team won a team gold and individual silver medal at the Asian Games in China and while the players were showered with big praise, rewards announced to them and other medalists after the event have largely come through hollow.
Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani hosted receptions for all medalists upon their from China and at the ceremony promised cash awards and infrastructure support for hockey, squash and other sports with sagging fortunes.
But the supposed beneficiaries of these wins have been left unimpressed.
“We have tried to ask the reason for the non- payments. But the concerned people only tell us that we would soon receive the payments and nothing more,” one of the Asian Games gold medalist squash player told PPI.
“Earlier, hockey team captain Zeeshan Ashraf and goalkeeper Salman Akbar had also expressed their concerns over not receiving the prize money announced.”