WAPDA Sports Board honours its medalists of Commonwealth Games; Cash Prizes given to medalists, coaches

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Lahore - April 25, 2018: WAPDA has been tremendously contributing towards promotion of sports in Pakistan for the last 55 years by providing facilities for sports and encouraging the players. With a view to encourage its players, WAPDA Sports Board (WSB) today organised a ceremony at WAPDA House to honour its players, who won medals for Pakistan in the 21st Commonwealth Games held at Gold Coast, Australia. Out of Pakistan’s one gold and four bronze medals in the Games, WAPDA players secured one gold and three bronze medals for their country. WAPDA Chairman and WAPDA Sports Board Patron-in-Chief Lt Gen Muzammil Hussain (Retd) was the chief guest of the ceremony, who presented cash awards to the WAPDA medalists.

Addressing the ceremony, WAPDA Chairman congratulated WAPDA medalists on their performance in the Commonwealth Games. He expressed the hope that WAPDA players would continue to bring laurels to Pakistan in the international events. Dilating upon the overall performance of the Pakistani contingent, he said that a lot of improvement is needed to elevate Pakistan in international sports events and all stakeholders have to play their due role in this regard.

Highlighting the significance of sports, WAPDA Chairman said that sports alone can effectively counter most of the national issues such as terrorism, extremism and
the fragile economy. Promotion of sports can be a source of national harmony in Pakistan, he added. The Chairman also highlighted the role of WAPDA Sports Board for promotion of sports in Pakistan. He thanked and appreciated the Pakistan Olympic Association for their patronage of sports.

Earlier, participants of the ceremony were briefed about WAPDA’s role in national and international sports events. It was briefed that WAPDA players have not only been showing their class at the national level but also bringing laurels to Pakistan in international competitions. In January 2017 to April 2018, WAPDA players won 11 gold, 13 silver and 42 bronze medals for Pakistan in various international events, including the 21st Commonwealth Games Gold Coast, Australia. It was told that out of 56-member Pakistani contingent for the Commonwealth Games, as many as 20 players belonged to WAPDA.

It is further briefed that WAPDA, at present, is national champion in 32 sports and runners-up in 20 disciplines. WAPDA is the biggest employer of sportspersons in Pakistan, as more than 2100 players and sports officials are associated with various units of WAPDA Sports Board across the country. WAPDA has 65 teams – 37 men and 28 women – of different games.