Aisam, Hameed conferred civil awards

President Zardari conferred civil awards to Pakistan’s record-breaking sprinter Hameed and tennis star Aisamul Haq.

KARACHI: Pakistan’s record-breaking female sprinter Nasim Hameed and tennis star Aisamul Haq were among the national sports personalities who were conferred civil awards by President Asif Zardari on the occasion of Independence Day.

Umpire Aleem Dar, former Rustam-e-Pakistan late Shahid Pervaiz Butt and sailor Goshpi Byram Avari were also selected for the civil awards which will be given in a ceremony to be held on March 23 next year.

Hameed, who became the fastest women of the region by winning gold in 100-metre race at the South Asian Games in February, was nominated for the President’s Pride of Performance Award and was duly delighted on getting the award, terming the achievement the biggest of her career.

“It’s a great honour because it’s rare that a woman athlete gets nominated for the Pride of Performance award,” Hameed told The Express Tribune. “I think it’s the biggest achievement for me because I represent the minority of athletes and especially women athletes since we do not get as many opportunities as the people in other sports do.”

Aisam, who reached the doubles quarter-final at Wimbledon besides producing commendable results in various international tournaments this year, has been nominated for Sitara-e-Imtiaz.

Dar, considered one of the best umpires in the world after standing in 60 Tests, 133 One-Day Internationals and 18 Twenty20s, has been conferred the Pride of Performance Award.

Legendary wrestler Shahid Pervaiz Butt who passed away in January this year following cardiac arrest has also been nominated for the Pride of Performance Award. Butt won the national championship ten times besides winning medals at various international events including British Challenge Cup, South Asian Games, Asian Wrestling Championship and World Wrestling Championship.

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