January 21, 2003	Tuesday	Ziqa’ad 17, 1423

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ISLAMABAD, Jan 20: Any Pakistani squash player, becoming the world’s No 1 in the days ahead would stand to earn a cash award of Rs 10 million, president Gen Pervez Musharraf announced on Monday.

Musharraf, who was the chief guest at the final of the COAS Squash Championship at the Roshan Khan Complex, also announced a purse of Rs 5 million for a player winning the British Open.

Following Jansher Khan’s retirement in 1999, no Pakistani has been able to become No 1, the highest ranked player currently being Mansoor Zaman at No. 16.

The president seemed to be in a generous mood and said that winner of an Olympic gold in an individual event would be given an award of Rs 10 million while for a similar feat achieved at the Asian Games would earn a player Rs 5 million.

There was more cash for boxer Mehrullah, who won the only gold medal for Pakistan at the Asian Games in Busan last year. He would now be getting an additional Rs 500,000.

Meanwhile Musharraf also gave away cash prizes to the Pakistan team that annexed the World Junior Championship in Chennai for the first time in more than two decades. Captain Khayal Muhammad, Majid Khan, Khalid Atlas, Safeerullah Khan, coach Rehmat Khan and media manager Naveed Haider Khan were all given Rs 100,000 each. Rs 50,000 went to assistant coach Ayaz Khan and Rs 25,000 to reserve player Shah Nawaz.

Members of the party that shone at the recent Junior British Open also earned cash, with under-17 winner, Yasir Butt taking home Rs 100,000, under-13 champion Amir Atlas being awarded as many rupees and his coach Atlas Khan, who is also his father, getting Rs 50,000.

Other beneficiaries were Adnan Khan (under-13 bronze, Rs 25,000), his coach Muhammad Naeem (Rs 15,000), Farhan Mahboob (under-17 silver, Rs 50,000) and coach Mahboob Khan (Rs 50,000).

The head of Pakistan Sports Board, Brig Saulat Abbas said that the incentives announced by the president should drive the players to glory. “They will now concentrate fully on sport in a bid to earn the top prize.”

“These incentives should help Pakistan regain the lost status in sport,” he said.