Haroon, Waseem awarded Rs2m

Pakistan Sports Board announces Rs2m award each for boxers Mohammad Waseem and Haroon Khan for performance in India.

KARACHI: The Pakistan Sports Board (PSB) has announced a Rs2-million award each for boxers Mohammad Waseem and Haroon Khan for winning bronze medals at the Commonwealth Games.

Haroon, brother of Britain’s WBA light welterweight champion Amir Khan, made his debut for Pakistan in the tournament and reached the semi-final of 52-kilogramme event while Waseem picked up the medal in the 49-kilogramme contest.

“The boxers have made the country proud and hence they deserve the acknowledgement,” said the PSB Director-General Syed Amir Hamza Gilani.

Meanwhile, the Pakistan Boxing Federation President Doda Khan Bhutto said the initiative will go a long way in promoting the game. He also claimed that the awards will help motivate boxers to perform at their peak in the upcoming Asian Games. “It’s an encouraging step that will boost boxers’ morale ahead of the Asian Games,” said Bhutto.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 27^th, 2010.