PESHAWAR
The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Olympic Association (KPOA) Saturday announced it will hold a reception in the honor of 17-year-old Hadia Kamal for winning a bronze medal in the Asian Boxing Championship in Jordan.
This was stated by President Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Olympian Association Syed Aqil Shah while talking to media men here on Saturday. He said it is a big honor for Pakistan that Miss Hadia Kamal, 17-year-old, pugilist, winning bronze medal among 48 countries participated in the Asian Boxing Championship held in Jordan last month. “Now it is up to the federal and provincial government to come up with a cash incentive to Hadia Kamal Khan, who without expenses participated in the Asian Boxing Championship,” Syed Aqil Shah, a former KP Sports Minister said.
Aqil Shah, who is also Senior Vice President of the Pakistan Olympic Association, said that he would suggest the Pakistan Olympic Association hold a reception for 17-year-old Hadia Kamal Khan. “It is for the first time in the country’s history that a 17-year-old female won a bronze medal among all 48 countries participating in the Asian Boxing Championship.
The government should come forward and not only announce rewards for Hadia but also set up a proper coaching and training plan along with proper diet and hopefully the days were not so far when Hadia Kamal, having good boxing talent, would win a medal in the Olympics.
Speaking to media men, former Provincial Sports Minister Syed Aqil Shah, said that Hadia Kamal had raised the head of the nation with pride. While the rest of the expenses were borne by the boxer’s parents and family on their own, the provincial and federal governments announced cash prizes for the girl and arranged for further training so that she could go ahead and bring more honors to the country. He said that the Olympic Association would soon host a reception in honor of Hadia in which she would be encouraged and given a cash prize.
Replying to a question, he said that for the last 10 years the expenses of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Olympic Association is bearing all its expenses from its own pocket and the government of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa did not issue a single penny.
He said, there is grant in aid of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Olympic Association but from the last 10-year no grant has been given by the government. He said that attention should be paid to search for talent for the promotion of sports. He also paid tribute to World Snooker Championship winner Ahsan Ramzan and said that he would be encouraged by inviting to Khyber Pakhtunkhwa so that the talent we have could see him and talk to him.
