SAF Games’ medalists to finally get their reward

KARACHI: The Pakistan Athletics Federation (AFP) has finally decided to distribute the cash prizes amounting to Rs 370,000 for the 14 athletes who won medals at the 11th South Asian Games (SAF) in Dhaka, as well as their coaches.

“The athletes are very happy and they feel that finally the AFP have shown some concern for them,” Army sports board director Qaisar Mustafa told The Express Tribune.

“The AFP had announced the prize money few months ago, but this time they will make sure that the athletes get the money instead of being disappointed.”

Mustafa said that 13 out 14 athletes who represented Pakistan in the 11th SAF Games were from the Army’s sports department, and therefore it is now their responsibility to assure the delivery of the prize money to the athletes.

The athletes are required to share 20 per cent of the prize money awarded to them with their coaches.

The delay

According to the AFP officials, the federation has claimed that they were forced to wait for the new budget since the previous one had no money allotted for the SAF Games winners. This is because the Games were held in February this year. The AFP is now aiming to distribute the prize money among the medalists by July 25.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 15^th, 2010.