Medal-winning skiers awarded Rs0.5m

Nawaz, Irfa call for government support in Naltar.

ISLAMABAD: The medal-winning skiers who took part in the recently-concluded first South Asian Winter Games were awarded Rs500,000 each. Pakistan won a total of five medals to finish at second place in the tournament behind hosts India.

Ifra Wali won gold in the Giant Slalom while her sister Amna grabbed two silver medals in the Slalom and Giant Slalom events, and Mir Nawaz Junior bagged silver and bronze in Slalom and Giant Slalom respectively.

Nawaz pressed for the government to promote winter games in Naltar so that players could compete in more international competitions. “International players cannot compete with our style as we are used to hard exercises from our child hood,” Nawaz told The Express Tribune.

Ifra echoed Nawaz’s views and invited young girls from Naltar to come forward in the sport.

Meanwhile, Winter Olympian Mohammad Abbas blamed his medal drought on bad luck. “It is only bad luck especially when your time comes and you do not perform well despite being fully fit,” said Abbas.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 22^nd, 2011.